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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Harrison Irwin Steans, who passed away on
4February 26, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans was born in Chicago on July 3,
61935; in high school, he was a State Latin Champion, and he
7partnered with his father in bridge tournaments around the
8region, often winning despite being the youngest to compete; he
9graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor
10of Arts in Economics in 1957; within weeks of his graduation,
11he married Lois M. Morrison and joined the United States Navy,
12having attended college on an NROTC scholarship; he was
13stationed in Pearl Harbor and resigned his commission as a
14Lieutenant; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans worked as an assistant to Tom
16Watson at IBM; in 1967, he left IBM to form the first
17single-bank holding company in Illinois and purchased the Hyde
18Park Bank & Trust; during his tenure as Chairman, the
19organization grew from a single $40 million bank to a six-bank
20holding company with assets exceeding 1.8 billion; from 1973
21until 1978, he served as Chairman of LaSalle National Bank,
22where he handled the bank's sale to ABN; in 1994, along with
23his daughter Jennifer, he formed Financial Investments

 

 

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1Corporation (FIC); and
 
2    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans believed in giving back; he served
3on many non-profit boards, including the Civic Committee of the
4Commercial Club, the Chicago Humanities Festival, the Chicago
5Botanic Garden, and the Ounce of Prevention Fund; he also
6served as a Life Trustee of DePaul University, Highland Park
7Hospital, and the Ravinia Festival; he took particular pride in
8being the only male named to the Ravinia Women's Board; in
91998, he started the Steans Family Foundation with his wife and
10daughters; for nearly 30 years, the foundation has worked hand
11in hand with the North Lawndale community to promote stronger
12education, employment, health, and safety for residents; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans was awarded an honorary doctorate
14by DePaul University and the Order of Lincoln, the State's
15highest award; he enjoyed tennis, games, and clever word play;
16he will be remembered for his entrepreneurial spirit, business
17acumen, booming laugh, unfailing sense of humor, keen
18intellect, and his caring interest in all around him; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans is survived by his wife of 61
20years, Lois; his daughters, Jennifer (Jim Kastenholz),
21Illinois State Senator Heather Steans (Leo Smith), and Robin
22(Leonard Gail); his grandchildren, Ryan, Sam, Abby, Jessica,
23Leah, Sydney, and Nick; his sister, Adeline Morrison; and his

 

 

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1many nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Harrison Irwin Steans and extend our sincere condolences to his
5family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Harrison Steans as an expression of
9our deepest sympathy.