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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Gerald "Jerry" Francis Murray, who 
4passed away on April 7, 2021 at the age of 78; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray was born to James and Rose Murray in 
6Chicago on October 15, 1942; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray attended Chicago State University 
8(Chicago Teacher's College) and spent a year and a half as an 
9elementary school teacher in Chicago Public Schools; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray joined VISTA, Volunteers In Service 
11to America, where he worked with local community organizations 
12in California; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray taught at Providence St. Mel High 
14School in Chicago for two years before entering Loyola 
15University's School of Law; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray practiced law for 40 years with a 
17focus on insurance and adoption law; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray and his wife Elaine were united in 
19marriage on August 30, 1969; they moved to Oak Park in 1972 and 
 
 
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1lived there for nearly 50 years; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray was a pillar of the Oak Park 
3community and served as a liaison for many public service 
4organizations; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray was a dedicated volunteer, community 
6activist, and dear friend to many at the Democratic Party of 
7Oak Park, the Oak Park Food Bank, and Housing Forward, a 
8non-profit with a mission of ending homelessness; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray played an important role in 
10providing pro bono law services to individuals and families in 
11Oak Park; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray could be found at the Oak Park 
13Farmer's Market in any multitude of volunteer roles 
14surrounding voter registration, climate change action, and 
15upcoming elections; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray had a passion for nature and 
17conservation, which led him to spend countless hours on Sierra 
18Club trips and volunteering on behalf of protecting the 
19environment; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Jerry Murray is survived by his wife, Elaine; his 
 
 
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1son, Joseph (Jenny); his daughter, Norah (Daniel); his 
2grandsons, Connor, Devon, Dylan, Michael, Derek, Owen, and 
3Francis; his brothers, Tom (Judy), Jim (Ann), and Bob (Linda); 
4his sister-in-law, June; his sister, Rosemary; and his dozens 
5of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; 
6therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
9Gerald "Jerry" Francis Murray and extend our sincere 
10condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
11him; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13presented to the family of Jerry Murray as an expression of our 
14deepest sympathy.