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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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learned with sadness of the death of Barbara Mead Blumenschein 
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of Downers Grove on April 3, 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mrs. Blumenschein was born and raised in Boardman, 
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Ohio; she graduated with honors and earned a bachelor of 
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science degree in English with a minor in Spanish in 1970 from 
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Ohio State University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She taught high school English briefly in 
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Youngstown before she married her husband, Robert, in 1971; the 
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family moved to Cleveland, then to Westmont; during that time, 
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she taught at Eisenhower Junior High School in Darien; the 
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family then moved to Houston and, in
1981, settled in Downers 
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Grove; and

 
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    WHEREAS, An English teacher at Herrick Middle School in 
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Downers Grove, she initially returned to teaching to help pay 
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for her children's college educations, but it became a vocation 
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rather than a mere job; while she taught, she took part-time 
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courses at Northern Illinois University and received a master's 
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degree in Education in 1986; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She reached every student, from those in high 
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honor classes to those who struggled; she expected nothing but 
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the best from everyone; she connected with all types of 
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students,
they were drawn to her because of her honesty; she 
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respected the students and they respected her; from students to 
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family and friends, she got people to do their best; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mrs. Blumenschein was in Who's Who Among American 
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Teachers several times; her 22 years of teaching were 
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highlighted last year when she was named Downers Grove Teacher 
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of the Year by the Junior Women's Club; a student from the 
 


 






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school nominated her; and

 
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    WHEREAS, A meticulous and stylish woman with a sense of 
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humor, Mrs. Blumenschein also enjoyed spending an entire 
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weekend watching sports; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Barbara Mead Blumenschein is felt 
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by all who knew and loved her, especially her husband, Robert; 
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her son, John; her daughter, Lauren; her mother, Bonnelyn Mead; 
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and her sisters, Bonlyn Wheeling and Paula Finnie; therefore, 
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be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Barbara Mead Blumenschein and extend our sincerest condolences 
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to her family, friends, and community; and be it further

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