Amid the bustling construction in downtown Detroit, largely the doing of Ilitch Holdings, strangers and those who knew Ilitch took time out of their day to remember a giant of the city. Many of the messages said their lives were transformed or inspired by his generosity on a personal level, and for Detroit as a whole.
No written message was quite so bold, however, as that of the note left by employees of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute. Ilitch, who paid Rosa Parks' rent in her final years, left a lasting impression on everyone he met, and at times his quieter actions eventually served as a testament of his heart for others.