SR0708 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0708 LRB096 21552 GRL 38520 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charlotte R. Oglesby of Madison, Wisconsin, formerly of Springfield, who passed away on March 3, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Charlotte Oglesby was born on August 17, 1922, in Chicago; her parents were Nunzio and Olga Russo, the founders of the Russo Spaghetti Company; and

WHEREAS, Charlotte Oglesby spent her childhood on the North Shore of Chicago; she also lived in Florence, Italy with her mother and brother for 2 years; and

WHEREAS, Charlotte Oglesby married John Lewis Oglesby in 1941; she and her husband then made their home in Elkhart, where they raised their daughters, Carlotta Gillett Oglesby Tibbals, and Victoria Wright Hallam; following the passing of her husband in 1973, Charlotte moved to Springfield, where she lived for 37 years until just prior to her passing; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, Charlotte Oglesby accepted a position with the Illinois Department of Conservation, Lands, and Historic Sites as a site interpreter at Lincoln's Tomb; during her tenure, she coordinated the flag ceremonies for both the Boy and Girl Scouts of America and served as host of numerous State and national leaders, including President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Susan Ford; Mrs. "Lady Bird" Johnson, and Senator Hillary Clinton; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, Charlotte Oglesby accepted a position with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency as a site interpreter at the Old State Capitol, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, and the Vachel Lindsey Home; as an interpreter, she participated in the Iles School outreach program for the "Mr. Lincoln World Living History Program" and coordinated the annual holiday concert at the Old State Capitol; at the time of her retirement in 2006, she was the oldest State employee at the time at the age of 83; and

WHEREAS, During her 28-year career with the State of Illinois, Charlotte Oglesby was especially delighted when Italians came to tour the sites, as she would converse and interpret entirely in Italian; she was the recipient of numerous accolades as an outstanding interpreter on the legacy and history of the State of Illinois and Abraham Lincoln; and

WHEREAS, Charlotte Oglesby was a great lover of animals, especially her cat, Daisy; and

WHEREAS, Charlotte Oglesby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Carlotta; and her brother, Arthur Russo; and

WHEREAS, Charlotte Oglesby is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and Robert Hallam; her grandchildren, John Paulk, Victoria Dillon, Stephanie and Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard; Charlotte Blotz, and Jessica Hallam; and her 9 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Charlotte R. Oglesby; and be it further

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