SR0580 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0580 LRB102 20961 ECR 29857 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Virginia "Ginie" Cassin, who passed away on October 16, 2020 at the age of 96; and

WHEREAS, Ginie Cassin was born on April 13, 1924 in Beloit, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Ginie Cassin's family moved to Oak Park when she was three years old; she graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1942; and

WHEREAS, Early in life, Ginie Cassin discovered a passion for civic engagement, including protest; in the 1960s, her fair housing policy activism was instrumental to the May 6, 1968 passage and implementation of Oak Park's landmark fair housing ordinance; and

WHEREAS, Ginie Cassin brought those learned experiences and accomplishments with her when she was elected as the first female village clerk of Oak Park in 1973; as a formal elected official, she played an indispensable role in creating the village's first liquor ordinance in March of 1973 and another ordinance that granted a franchise to Cablevision in April 1979; and

WHEREAS, Ginie Cassin's tenure as village clerk lasted until 1993; during those 20 years, she mentored subsequent village clerks Sandra Sokol, Teresa Powell, and Vicki Scaman, who is the current Oak Park village president; and

WHEREAS, In retirement, Ginie Cassin remained engaged with Oak Park politics; she regularly invited local female leaders to her home where they discussed current events over breakfast; she maintained memberships in numerous organizations, such as the League of Women Voters and the Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest; and

WHEREAS, Ginie Cassin's post-retirement years included a time as board chair for the Ernest Hemingway Foundation; through this, she cemented the author's legacy by establishing an Oak Park museum that bore his name; she even curated exhibition items for the Hemingway home museum; and

WHEREAS, On July 9, 2018, the Oak Park Village Board approved a resolution to honor Ginie Cassin and her contributions to the community; during the ceremony, Illinois State Senator Don Harmon, now the Illinois Senate President, also presented her with a proclamation stating that the Illinois General Assembly had recognized the week as "Virginia Cassin Week" in Oak Park; and

WHEREAS, In her personal and professional lives, Ginie Cassin lived by her motto "I can do that" and was known for her friendly nature, bright smile, and ceaseless energy; and

WHEREAS, Ginie Cassin was preceded in death by her husband and high school sweetheart, Bill Cassin; and

WHEREAS, At the time of her death, Ginie Cassin was survived by her children, Michael (Barbara) Cassin, Patricia Cassin, Sharon Cassin Frame, Sheila (Rick) McLaughlin, Timothy (Marcia) Cassin, Sean Cassin, Brian (Donna) Cassin, and Kieran (Jeri) Cassin; her 18 grandchildren; and her 26 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Virginia "Ginie" Cassin, 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 Virginia Cassin as an expression of our deepest sympathy.