SR0315 LRB096 13206 GRL 27844 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Terrence L. Barnich of Chicago, who was
4 killed on May 25, 2009 while serving his country as Deputy
5 Director of the Iraq Transition Assistance Office; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Despite a highly successful career in State
7 government and the private sector, Terry Barnich chose to
8 devote much of his time and energy in recent years to the
9 valiant effort to bring democracy to the people of Iraq,
10 serving at great personal sacrifice and ultimately giving his
11 life to advance the cause of peace and democracy in the region;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich arrived in Iraq in the tumultuous
14 early days of the surge led by General David Petraeus and
15 remained in the country, taking a leave from his duties as
16 Chief Executive Office of New Paradigm Resources Group in order
17 to pursue his mission in Iraq; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich went to Iraq following a
19 distinguished career in the public sector, which included
20 serving as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from
21 1989 to 1993; and
 

 

 

SR0315 - 2 - LRB096 13206 GRL 27844 r

1     WHEREAS, Prior to his service on the Illinois Commerce
2 Commission, Terry Barnich served as General Counsel to Governor
3 James Thompson, where he provided a wide array of legal advice
4 to the Governor, his staff, and various cabinet directors; he
5 also lent his expertise in analyzing and drafting legislation,
6 executive orders, and administrative review; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich's lifelong commitment to justice
8 was at the heart of his service when, as counsel to the
9 Governor in the 1980s, he gained a high public profile
10 assisting in the investigation of an alleged rapist, which
11 eventually led to the exoneration of the individual on the
12 basis of DNA evidence and a commutation of the sentence by the
13 Governor; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Prior to his government service, Terry Barnich
15 worked as an associate of the law firm of McDermott, Will &
16 Emery from 1979 to 1983 and at Rudnick & Wolfe from 1983 to
17 1984, where he concentrated in the practice of commercial
18 litigation; and
 
19     WHEREAS, After his service with Illinois government, Terry
20 Barnich was hired by the Bell Atlantic Corporation to lead its
21 national strategy for securing the necessary 48-state
22 regulatory approvals of its proposed merger with the TCI cable
23 company; and
 

 

 

SR0315 - 3 - LRB096 13206 GRL 27844 r

1     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich then formed a consulting practice in
2 Chicago - New Paradigm Resources Group, Inc. - which
3 concentrated on providing regulatory, public policy, and
4 competitive strategic planning advice to companies operating
5 in formerly regulated industries, such as the retail energy and
6 telecommunications fields; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich has been widely published on a
8 variety of utility and political topics, in such journals as
9 The Wall Street Journal, the Journal of Commerce, Public
10 Utilities Fortnightly, The Washington Times, and the Chicago
11 Tribune; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich grew up in Chicago's Hegewisch
13 community and graduated from Washington High School; he earned
14 his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in
15 Washington, D.C. and his law degree from Fordham University in
16 New York City; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich is survived by his mother, Genevieve
18 Ketel; his brother, Bruce Barnich; his sister, Rochelle
19 Barnich; and his many friends around the world; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich's commitment to the greater good is
21 reflected in the comments of friends and former colleagues,

 

 

SR0315 - 4 - LRB096 13206 GRL 27844 r

1 upon learning of his death; former Illinois Governor James
2 Thompson, for whom he worked as chief legal counsel, said "It's
3 not often you find people who are experienced and know how to
4 make things work, but also have a sense of public service and
5 the obligation of citizenry. He had both."; former Treasurer
6 Judy Baar Topinka, for whom he served as campaign manager for
7 her 2006 gubernatorial bid, said "He wanted to make the world
8 and everything around him better."; his friend and former
9 Baghdad colleague, Philip O'Connor, said "He fought his battles
10 with a briefcase and a computer... he was a true patriot and
11 hero..."; and
 
12     WHEREAS, A large and diverse universe of friends and
13 colleagues are left with innumerable memories of Terry
14 Barnich's camaraderie, quick wit, self-effacing and irreverent
15 sense of humor, and ability to bring an element of fun to even
16 the most serious and stressful situation; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich is fondly remembered as a true
18 patriot who was committed to his mission of reconstructing the
19 physical, economic, and intellectual infrastructure of Iraq
20 with an unrelenting focus on the goals of spreading democracy,
21 improving world peace, and relieving the suffering of the
22 people of Iraq; and
 
23     WHEREAS, Terry Barnich's legacy will endure as his friends

 

 

SR0315 - 5 - LRB096 13206 GRL 27844 r

1 and colleagues throughout the world, despite their grief and
2 sadness, recommit themselves to follow their passions, embrace
3 the importance of public service, and live life courageously;
4 therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
6 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7 Terry Barnich and his service to the State of Illinois, the
8 United States of America, and the citizens of the world, while
9 at the same time celebrating his legacy of quiet, hard-working
10 leadership and commitment to the greater good; and be it
11 further
 
12     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to the family and friends of Terry Barnich with our
14 sincere sympathies and our abiding respect, admiration, and
15 love for a great man who was doing great things.