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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Norma Bernsohn, nee Raphael, who passed 
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away on April 15, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Norma Bernsohn was born in New York City in 1917; 
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she attended Brooklyn College until her marriage to Joseph 
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Bernsohn in 1940; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After ten years as a mother and wife, Norma 
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Bernsohn attended Chicago Teachers College, where she obtained 
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her degree in education; she then taught in several elementary 
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schools around Chicago, including schools in the Cabrini Green 
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area; during her tenure at York Center, she pioneered the 
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concept of a parenting program so that home life could 
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compliment the school experience for children; she was also 
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critical in the development of one of the first Head Start 
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programs in the country at Jane Addams Hull House and was one 
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of the forces behind the annual "Week of the Young Child"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After earning her Master's Degree in Early 
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Childhood Development from Northwestern University, Norma 
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Bernsohn had a career educating future teachers at both Malcolm 
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X College and Truman College in Chicago; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Norma Bernsohn's teaching style and innovative 
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methods undoubtedly inspired and influenced hundreds of 
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excellent and dedicated educators teaching throughout the 
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country today; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In her later years, Norma Bernsohn enjoyed 
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spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 
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spending winters in Ajijic, Mexico with her husband, square 
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dancing, enjoying her home in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, and 
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traveling around the world; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Norma Bernsohn will be remembered by all who knew 
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and loved her for her vibrant spirit, positive attitude and 
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unending energy, which was felt by all in her presence; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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her family and friends, the passing of Norma Bernsohn; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Norma Bernsohn as an expression of 
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our sympathy.