The late founder of Little Caesars also paid Rosa Parks’ rent for a decade, so let’s remember him for more than pizza
Mike Ilitch passed away last week, and he leaves behind a legacy that’s far more important than pizza and baseball — the Detroit Tigers owner and Little Caesars founder quietly made a beautiful contribution to society and he didn’t want any recognition for it. In the day’s since Ilitch’s death, the community has been fondly remembering his impact on Detroit and its residents — but one particular act of kindness really stands out.
The Little Caesars founder paid for Rosa Parks’ housing for over a decade after she was robbed and assaulted in her home in 1994.
Damon Keith, a federal judge in Detroit who helped Parks find a new apartment after the incident, says Ilitch called him to say he’d pay the civil rights icon’s rent for as long as necessary.
“They don’t go around saying it, but I want to, at this point, let them know, how much the Ilitches not only meant to the city, but they meant so much for Rosa Parks, who was the mother of the civil rights movement,” Keith told CNN affiliate WXYZ.
Parks relocated from Montgomery, Alabama to Detroit after sparking the famous bus boycott, and she was an important figure in the city for the rest of her life.
When Parks fell on hard times, Ilitch immediately stepped in — and he paid her rent until her death in 2005.
Ilitich, who was born and raised in Detroit, was devoted to making his hometown a better place — and Keith credits him with transforming the city.
“You’ll never discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. Mike and (his wife) Marian had the courage to lose sight of the shore and discover new oceans,” he said. “They kept pushing Detroit, and had it not been for them, I am saying, Detroit would not be in the renaissance that they’re in now.”
Rest in Peace, Mike Ilitch — thank you for reminding us just how much kindness is out there.
