Mike Ilitch has died

**Maof** · February-10-17, 06:31 PM

just seeing this on the news.

"Mike Ilitch rose from a humble west-side neighborhood to assemble a food, sports and entertainment empire that enabled him to return the Stanley Cup to Hockeytown, build both a new arena and a ballpark with a Ferris wheel, restore the grandeur of downtown’s iconic Fox Theatre and introduce metro Detroit to the concepts of “pizza-pizza” and an $8 cup of beer.

From his first Little Caesars outlet in Garden City strip mall in 1959 — where a pizza cost $2.39 — Ilitch, aided at every step by Marian, his wife of 61 years, became a major metro Detroit personality and a key figure in the revival of downtown Detroit. In addition to founding the Little Caesars pizza chain, he owned the Red Wings, Tigers and the Fox Theatre, and operated city-owned Joe Louis, Cobo, and Little Caesars arenas, among other smaller businesses, teams and restaurant"

http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...rbes/91475642/

**jcole** · February-10-17, 06:40 PM

Passed today at age 87 from what I can tell.

**SyGolden48236** · February-10-17, 06:44 PM

Such a sad loss of a great man who did many wonderful things for his community.

Baruch Dayan Emet!

I hope that people on this forum will refrain from posting nasty and negative comments about Mr. Ilitch as a small number of folks do when one who attained the success that he has passes on.

**Dan** · February-10-17, 06:50 PM

People have differing opinions, but much respect is due. RIP Mr. I.

**Lowell** · February-10-17, 06:53 PM

Mike Ilitch was a titan of the Detroit business scene, a remarkable boot-strapper and a huge part of our Detroit story and comeback. And he is a son of immigrants. My condolences to his family.

I know he is controversial to some and I have had my reservations but today I focus on the pluses which to my estimation far outweigh the others.

Top among those was that he was the first to seriously reverse the outflow of business from Downtown Detroit. When everyone else was running for the doors he came back, restored the Fox Theater and building and settled in.

Downtown Detroit has risen steadily ever since.

**SyGolden48236** · February-10-17, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dan

People have differing opinions, but much respect is due. RIP Mr. I.

Absolutely they do. And people are certainly entitled to their opinions. However it is extremely poor form and patently disrespectful to denigrate a good man at the time of his passing.

**gnome** · February-10-17, 06:57 PM

He and Charlie Jones saved Tom's Tavern from closing after Tom died. That is a kindness that should never be forgotten. RIP

**emu steve** · February-10-17, 07:09 PM

Just saw this while watching the EMU/Akron basketball game.

Sad for all. This certainly will start the transition within the Ilitch family.

He was a titan in sports.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-10-17, 07:28 PM

I am sad on behalf of his family & friends. Sincere condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Aside from those condolences, I am a big believer in celebrating life at the time of death. He accomplished a great deal. Little Caesar's pizza, in addition to directly employing thousands, was/is an easily accessible franchise business that made many people themselves small business owners. His sports businesses need no touting. I just wish he'd lived to see the arena open & the Tigers win the WS. He sure put a lot of money into both. And in terms of helping Detroit, he invested a lot of money, back when it appeared to be throwing good money after bad. Regardless of anyone's opinion of him as a developer, downtown would likely not be where it is today without his years-ago investments in the Wings, Tigers, Fox & moving his HQ downtown.

Thanks, Mr. I, for the lifetime of hard work, success & vision. May your family's pain heal, and your legacy businesses continue to thrive.

**emu steve** · February-10-17, 07:35 PM

Sad he did not live long enough to see the opening of LCA.

**Dan** · February-10-17, 07:45 PM

Yep. I agree, I hope my post was clear.

**Wesley Mouch** · February-10-17, 08:09 PM

Mike was the first significant businessperson to invest in Downtown Detroit -- between the Red Wings, and the Fox Theatre & new LC Headquarters. Nobody was moving downtown then. And it was a long time before anyone followed.

I knew him personally -- as well as many family members. They may not be perfect, but they are good people. Mr. I was the best. He was a great man.

Best to his family.

**401don** · February-10-17, 08:21 PM

According to the Ilitch Holdings press release, he played AAA and hit .300 one year. I knew he was a Tiger minor leaguer, but didn't know he was that close to making it to the majors. Very impressive. Professional athlete, marine, billionaire businessman and family man. Quite the life.

**Junjie** · February-10-17, 08:23 PM

Four Stanley Cups, two pennants, the Fox, Comerica, and soon the new HQ building and the WSU School of Business... all major contributions to the city. But personally my earliest [[and very fond) memories of Detroit are of chowing down on Little Caesars at Tiger Stadium with my family, not all of whom are still around these days. So, thanks for the memories, Mr. Ilitch.

Requiescat in pace.

**Danny** · February-10-17, 08:43 PM

I'm crying right now!

**softailrider** · February-10-17, 08:52 PM

Really too bad he didn't get a World Series, wasn't because he didn't want to spend money.

**daddeeo** · February-10-17, 08:56 PM

He was a pioneer in bringing Detroit back from the dead. Like him, love or hate him, Mr. I was a Detroit giant and mover-shaker for years

**Baselinepunk** · February-10-17, 08:59 PM

detnews.com / freep.com headline:

2017 October 21

TIGERS WIN WORLD SERIES!!!!

**softailrider** · February-10-17, 09:15 PM

Does make you wonder what his passing means to the Tigers and the Wings. My knee jerk reaction is the kids sell.

**JBMcB** · February-10-17, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Does make you wonder what his passing means to the Tigers and the Wings. My knee jerk reaction is the kids sell.

Mrs. Ilitch is running things now - I'd imagine she'd keep things pretty status quo. Condolences and good luck to her.

**Detroit** · February-10-17, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Does make you wonder what his passing means to the Tigers and the Wings. My knee jerk reaction is the kids sell.

They will not sell. It was made clear to the kids that they are to keep the companies under family control... all of them. They announced this last year. And don't forget Mrs. I is still very much alive.

**Wesley Mouch** · February-10-17, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Detroit

They will not sell. It was made clear to the kids that they are to keep the companies under family control... all of them. They announced this last year. And don't forget Mrs. I is still very much alive.

Mrs. I always has run the business. Mr. I was the idea-guy -- and risk taker. But Mrs. I the stable hand on the rudder.

Except as may be required by law, I don't expect to see changes soon. Should Mrs. I disengage, all bets are off.

**eastland** · February-10-17, 10:51 PM

They might have to sell the Tigers. Mrs. I can't be the owner because of her casino interests. The Miami Marlins are reportedly being sold for $1.3 billion. The Tigers have to be worth more. What are the inheritance tax ramifications for the kids?

**Balduck** · February-10-17, 11:01 PM

What a sad piece of news to come home too. A piece of Detroit has passed away today. I've always loved hockey [[and played it both in the neighborhood and in HS at Redford) plus my hubby was a coach years ago before he went into the Marines.

**detroitbob** · February-10-17, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by eastland

They might have to sell the Tigers. Mrs. I can't be the owner because of her casino interests. The Miami Marlins are reportedly being sold for $1.3 billion. The Tigers have to be worth more. What are the inheritance tax ramifications for the kids?

The right of ownership have been well planned for prior to his passing. the empire will continue. There are 7 children. Christopher is the heir apparent. Safe to say, as indicated many times over the last few yearts, there will be no sale. As the Fox Marquee stated " A Life Well Lived"...add to that a death well planned for.