HR0020 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0020 LRB095 04832 KXB 24892 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to extend their condolences to the family and friends of Phyllis Sutker of Skokie, who passed away on November 13, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Phyllis Sutker was born in Chicago; she graduated from Austin High School and Wright Junior College before receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in social work from the University of Chicago; she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sutker met her husband Calvin during their senior year of high school, and they were married in 1946; they moved to Skokie in 1958; and

WHEREAS, In the 1950s, Mrs. Sutker joined NA'AMAT, which supports women's and children's issues in Israel; she went on to become its national president between 1981 and 1985; at the time of her passing she was a member of the NA'AMAT USA advisory board and of its Chicago Council; she represented the group in the Labor Zionist Movement and on committees and boards of the major Jewish organizations in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sutker was deeply involved in the Zionist movement; she was a national vice president of the American Zionist Movement and served on its Chicago region board; she also served as an elected member of the executive of the World Zionist Organization in the 1980s and 1990s and was elected as one of its honorary fellows in 1997; she was on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency between 1983 and 1992; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sutker was an elected member of the Executive (American Section) of the World Zionist Executive and the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency; she was a delegate to six World Zionist Congresses; and she was a national vice president of the American Zionist Movement and on the board of the American Zionist Movement, Chicago region; and

WHEREAS, As national president of NA'AMAT USA, Phyllis Sutker met and worked with many Israeli officials; she was a friend of Leah Rabin, wife of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and worked closely with former Prime Minister Shimon Peres; Uzi Narkiss, the Israeli general who liberated Jerusalem in the 1967 war, was a personal friend who came to Chicago to give the keynote address when Phyllis was honored by the Labor Zionist Alliance of Chicago (now called Ameinu) in 1997; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, Phyllis was honored by the Greater Chicago Council of NA'AMAT on the occasion of the organization's 80th anniversary; she and her husband, Calvin R. Sutker, were honored by the American Zionist Movement in 2002; in 1996, Phyllis was elected a lifetime Honorary Fellow of the World Zionist Organization; she was honored by Israel Bonds of Chicago as a "Woman of Achievement" in 1988; and

WHEREAS, Phyllis Sutker was preceded in death by her son, Edward, and her brother, David; and

WHEREAS, Phyllis Sutker was the beloved wife of former State Representative Calvin R. Sutker; the devoted mother of Sharon Sutker McGowan (Jim McGowan), Shelley Sutker-Dermer (Kenneth Dermer), Edie Sue Sutker (fiance, David Richmond), and Allen (Karen) Sutker; the loving grandmother of Jennifer and Joshua McGowan, Elana and Jake Dermer, and Danielle, Nicole, Tommy, and Teddy Sutker; the beloved sister-in-law of Marsha Kline, Irwin (Carla) Sutker, and Ada (Beryl) Rabinowitz; the step-sister of Lloyd (Grace) Kline; and is fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the death of Phyllis Sutker; and be it further

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