SR0702 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0702 LRB104 21332 ECR 36172 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Diane Rose Doherty, who passed away on July 14, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty, early in her career, served on the faculty of Georgetown University at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty was also an adjunct faculty member at the graduate school of Social Services at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., during which time she worked with homeless women at Mt. Caramel House in D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty became executive director of the Illinois Hunger Coalition (IHC) in 1996, and over the years, she received many awards and accolades for her tireless advocacy at all levels of government for programs and policies working to reduce hunger; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty and IHC accepted the Dr. Raymond Wheeler/Senator Paul Wellstone Anti-Hunger Advocacy Leadership Award from the Food Action and Research Center in 2019, an honor historically given to an advocacy group and its leadership for demonstrating outstanding leadership in the fight against hunger in America; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty founded New Endeavors by Women, a nonprofit that focuses on housing and supporting homeless women; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty was also a founding board member of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the Grassroots Collaborative, a coalition of organizations dedicated to racial and economic equity; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty was a fierce advocate and kind colleague whose work created positive change across Illinois, and she will be remembered for serving as a role model for anti-hunger advocates throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, Diane Doherty was preceded in death by her parents, William Doherty and Rosemary (Crot) Doherty, and her brother, William Doherty Jr.; and

WHEREAS, At the time of her passing, Diane Doherty was survived by her sisters, Donna (Kevin) Kane and Mary Debra Doherty, and her nephew and nieces, Kevin Michael (Carrie) Kane, Megan (Mike) Kane Towle, Kara (Jim) Kane Sullivan, and Maire Rose Maloney; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Diane Rose Doherty 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 Doherty as an expression of our deepest sympathy.