HR0784 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0784 LRB096 16214 GRL 31470 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Anne Sullivan of Chicago, who passed away on November 2, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Anne Sullivan was born in 1910 in Chicago; she grew up in Chicago's Austin neighborhood; she was a graduate of Siena High School; and

WHEREAS, Anne Sullivan graduated from the DePaul University College of Law and was licensed to practice law in 1934; after serving as a volunteer in probate court for a year, she joined the law firm of DeFrees, Fiske, O'Brien & Thomson, where she met fellow lawyer John Sullivan; the pair were married in 1937; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, Anne Sullivan and her husband went into practice together as Sullivan & Sullivan with offices in downtown Chicago; despite the couple's growing family, she continued to put in full days, coming home with her husband each night around 6 P.M. to make dinner with help from their children; she kept the practice after her husband's passing in 1973 and worked with her daughter, Debbie Roberts, during the 1990s; she and her husband were also the founders of Chicago's first paralegal service, Law Clerk Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Anne Sullivan was an active member of the Women's Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the West Suburban Bar Association, and the DePaul Women's Board; and

WHEREAS, Anne Sullivan enjoyed traveling, fine dining, theatre, DePaul basketball games, and Notre Dame football games; and

WHEREAS, Anne Sullivan is survived by her sons, Jim, Bill, Jake, and Larry; her daughters, Debbie Roberts, Mary Dewyer, Nancy Fitzgerald, and Judy Hannigan; her 24 grandchildren; and her 24 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Anne Sullivan; and be it further

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