SR0752 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0752 LRB101 15063 MST 64158 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joan Diane Alsberry; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was born in Chicago to Irving and Amanda Steele on October 7, 1947; she attended Parkman Elementary School and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago; she graduated from Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School, where she was a member of the Girls Athletic Association and captain of the cheerleader squad; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry attended community college in Chicago and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy; she was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry began working at Mercy Hospital in Chicago as a staff therapist and eventually became the assistant director and clinical coordinator for students; she also worked at Spaulding School and Tradewinds Rehabilitation in Gary, Indiana; she later became the first African American Director of Physical Therapy at Americana Healthcare Center in Oak Lawn; in 1982, she became the Director of Physical Medicine at South Chicago Hospital (Advocate Aurora Trinity); and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry married William Adams; after his passing, she married Vernard Alsberry Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry became a clinical instructor and adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an instructor at the Chicago City Junior College for the Physical Therapy Assistance Program; she helped to organize the Support Organization for Minority Physical Therapists (SOMPT) and was a charter member of the American Academy of Physical Therapy (AAPT); and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry co-founded a private practice, Superior Physical Therapy, eventually becoming the sole proprietor; as her business grew, she added other rehabilitation services and changed the name to Superior Therapeutic Services Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry became the program director for senior services at the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois; she then joined her husband and founded Kids Health Club.com, a fitness center for youth ages six to 16 years, which they operated for eight years; she also briefly worked as a home health physical therapist for Advocate South Suburban Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry received numerous honors during her professional life; in 1997, the Southland Chamber of Commerce named her as its Small Business Person of the Year; the American Academy of Physical Therapy presented her with the Outstanding Leadership Award and the American Physical Therapy Association presented her with the Diversity 2000 Award; she also was named as a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapy; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was involved with numerous organizations, including the Village of Hazel Crest Planning and Zoning Commission, the Hazel Crest Senior Citizen Commission, the Bremen Township Regular Democratic Organization, the Chicago State University Occupational Therapy Program, the Illinois Council on Aging, the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention, Age Options, the Illinois Physical Therapy Association, the American Academy of Physical Therapy, the Illinois Council of Case Coordinators Units, and the Governors State University Physical Therapy Program; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was preceded in death by her first husband, William; her parents; her siblings, Ronald and Barbara; her stepmother, Ora McClinton; her stepfather, Rudolph White; and her stepbrother, Lamar; and

WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry is survived by her husband of over 21 years, Village of Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry Jr.; her sons, Perry Curtis Jr., William Sean Adams, Vernard (Linah) Alsberry III, and John Cory Medlock; her daughters, Cindy Denise Vinson, Catherine Curtis, Tiffany Diane Curtis, Vernica (Tyrone) Alsberry-Griffin, and Moneecia (O'Shane) Alsberry-Wilmoth; her brothers, Irving "Willie" (Peaches) Steele Jr., Rudolph (Gregory Colombe) White, and Keith McClinton; her sisters, Doretta (Jimmy) Smith and Venessa (Tommy) Bodey; her nieces, Debra Brown and Metrneaa Gibson; her nephews, Anthony and Jonathan Steele; her cousins, Roslyn, Rosesharon, and Cleophus (Red) Clarke and Preston (Dojie) Barksdale; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in law, Charles (Lyndette) Alsberry, Keith (Mary), Kyle (Rosa), Melvin (Sonya) Alsberry, and Lorraine McCoy; 15 grandchildren; her A-Team family; and a host of extended family, close longtime friends, and professional colleagues; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joan Diane Alsberry and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Diane Alsberry as an expression of our deepest sympathy.