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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Calista Wehrli of Naperville, who passed
4away on September 6, 2010; and
 
5    WHEREAS, She was born June 25, 1925, one of 13 children
6born to Frank and Gertrude Wehrli; she graduated from
7Naperville Community High School in 1943; she joined the United
8States Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1945; while stationed at
9Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and on Parris Island, South
10Carolina, she was responsible for organizing the sports
11programs for the men and women on base; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Upon her return home, she managed Centennial Beach
13and organized the end-of-summer entertainment event called the
14Aquathons; she was also one of the first women to serve as a
15lifeguard at Centennial Beach; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In 1946, the Advanced Flyer and Exposition Flyer
17trains collided in Naperville, killing 47 people and injuring
18many more; Calista Wehrli was immediately on the scene and
19worked for 8 hours rescuing people and assisting others; she
20later met President Harry Truman, who shook her hand and
21thanked her for her efforts; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, She attended North Central College in 1946 and
21947, then transferred to Iowa State Teachers College,
3graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree; she began
4teaching in 1950 and retired in 1985, after being named the
5Ontario, California, High School teacher of the year; the
6swimming pools at Ontario High School are dedicated to her; and
 
7    WHEREAS, She played baseball for the Borman Chryslerettes,
8a farm club for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball
9League's Rockford Peaches during the summers of 1947 and 1948;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, Calista Wehrli is survived by her 62 nieces and
12nephews; her brothers, Dick, Don, Andrew, and Harp; and her
13sisters, Ann Jansen, Carol Doll, Joyce Wehrli, Jean Kuhn, and
14Marge Walsh; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
17her family and friends, the passing of Calista Wehrli; and be
18it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Calista Wehrli as a symbol of our
21sincere sympathy.