SR0209 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0209 LRB095 12263 GRL 36739 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth of Waukegan, who passed away on March 22, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth was born on October 28, 1944 in Pekin; his parents were Eli and Emma Barth; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth graduated from Morton Township High School in 1962, the North Dakota School of Forestry in Bottineau, North Dakota in 1964, and the DuPage Horticultural School in West Chicago in 1965; he graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington in 1967; he received his Masters of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in Lombard in 1993 and his Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary in Lombard in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth worked in the family floral business in Morton and owned and operated his own flower shops in Hammond, Highland, and Dyer, Indiana in the 1970s; in 1976 he was named Top Floral Artist by the American Institute of Florists and has a book written about his cutting edge floral designs; he also served on the Illinois/Indiana Florist Allied Association; and

WHEREAS, In 1979, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth changed careers and joined Industrial and Science Conference Management Inc., where he organized conferences throughout the world; he received numerous awards from the China External Trade Development Council in Taipei, Taiwan, the World Federation of Sporting Goods in Zurich, Switzerland, and Thailand Sportswear and Garment Manufacturers in Bangkok, Thailand; in 1981, he joined the National Sporting Goods Association, where he served as the national and international public relations sales manager; in this capacity he traveled the world and acquired numerous friendships both stateside and abroad; and

WHEREAS, In 1989 Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth was called to ministry when he left the corporate structure and began his theological studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary in Lombard; his ministry began by serving at Ingleside Methodist Church, which was followed by a journey to Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, Alaska, where he was Director of Public Relations; he followed his time in Subiaco with a call to ministry with the United Church of Christ, where he was pastor in German Town Hills, and most recently as pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Waukegan; he had been a pastor with the United Church of Christ for 19 years; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth wrote and published two books; "Casting Stones, Prostitution in Asia and the United States" (Brook, 1996) and "Exhibiting for Dollars, A How to Guide to Trade Shows" (NSGA, 1983); and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth worked closely with victims of domestic abuse; he had professional memberships and alliances with The National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization, the Family Violence Intervention Project of Illinois, 10th Judicial Circuit, the Central Illinois Friends of PWA, the Heart of Illinois Clergy Cluster, the National Alliance for Self Help, Friends of Persons with AIDS, National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization, Central Illinois Native American Urban Center, and Mayor Daley's Conference on Domestic Violence; he was recently involved with Alexian Brothels Bonaventure House at The Harbor, a transitional housing facility; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Sally Swearingen; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth is survived by his life partner, William M. Tortat Sr.; their six children, Todd (Amy) Barth, Carrie (Chris) Rhoads, William (Liz) Tortat Jr., Robert (Kris) Tortat, Jennifer Swearingen, and Jessi (David) Weiner; nine wonderful grandchildren, Paige, Sadie, Jackson, Lucas, Alexis, Leo, Gabrielle, Miranda, and Morgan; his siblings, John (Robin) Barth, Doede Barth, and Christy (Steve) Boswell; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Barth as an expression of our sympathy.