HR1479 LRB095 22136 KXB 52425 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Dr.
4 William D. Towne, M.D., of Palos Park on July 27, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born on August 29, 1939; after graduating
6 from Mount Carmel High School he received a scholarship from
7 U.S. Steel to attend Loyola University, where he later
8 graduated from the Stritch School of Medicine; and
 
9     WHEREAS, While a medical student visiting Hines V.A.
10 Hospital, he met a nurse named Mary Tansey and they married in
11 June of 1964; and
 
12     WHEREAS, William and Mary had eight children: William,
13 Patrick, James, Michael, Jerry, Brian, Danny, and Catherine;
14 three of Dr. Towne's sons followed him into the medical
15 profession; William is a cardiologist, Patrick is an internist,
16 and James, who is currently in his fourth year of studies at
17 the University of Illinois at Chicago's medical school; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Having completed his residency at Cook County
19 Hospital, Dr. Towne then pursued a cardiac fellowship that
20 followed up on his fascination with the human heart; it was
21 during a time when intensive care units were emerging, along

 

 

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1 with new technology for people with heart disease; and
 
2     WHEREAS, In 1973 Dr. Towne was named chairman of cardiology
3 at Cook County Hospital; he had the distinction of serving as
4 the youngest physician ever appointed to the post; he
5 concurrently served as associate chairman of medicine; he also
6 served as chief of the medical staff from 1979 until 1981; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He served as chief of cardiology at Columbus
8 Hospital from 1983 to 1993, clinical associate professor of
9 medicine at Loyola from 1975 to 1985, and served at
10 Northwestern from 1985 to 1993; and
 
11     WHEREAS, He was fondly referred to as a "doctor's doctor"
12 by his colleagues, who considered him to be among the best in
13 the medical profession; and he was deemed an expert in physical
14 diagnosis of heart conditions; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Dr. Towne's career also included serving in the
16 United States Navy, where he served as a lieutenant commander
17 and flight surgeon from 1966 to 1968; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Dr. William Towne is survived by his wife, Mary;
19 his sons, William, Patrick, James, Michael, Jerry, Brian, and
20 Danny; and his daughter, Catherine Gergitis; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3 mourn, along with his family, friends, and colleagues, the
4 passing of Dr. William Towne; and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to the family of Dr. William Towne as a symbol of our
7 sincere sympathy.