SR0761 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0761 LRB096 21920 KXB 39967 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Neal McGarry Bidwill of Broward County, Florida, formerly of Chicago, who passed away on April 2, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Chicago on May 23, 1930, and was raised in the city's near west suburbs, graduating from Fenwick High School; after attending Loyola University in Chicago, he served in the United States Air Force; and

WHEREAS, Upon discharge from the military, he began operating The Pacific Company, a construction business originally formed by his great-grandfather in 1914; under his stewardship, the business flourished; he operated the business for almost sixty years up to the time of his death, providing sidewalk, street, and electrical contracting services throughout Chicago and Northern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Having a talent for business and an entrepreneurial spirit, he was involved in many business pursuits throughout his life; among his many business endeavors, he owned and operated an insurance company, a carwash, a sports store, an RV dealership, a lakefront restaurant in Wisconsin, a home building business, and a beach side motel; and

WHEREAS, Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a Chicago Alderman in the late 19th century, and his father, who served 38 years in the Illinois Senate, including ten years as President and majority leader, and having a passion for politics and public service, Neal Bidwill served in public office and participated in political affairs throughout much of his life; and

WHEREAS, While living in Illinois, he was elected three times to serve as a Village Trustee of the Town of River Forest, serving from 1961-1967; during those years, he also served as the elected Republican Committeeman from River Forest; he ultimately was appointed to serve on the Cook County Republican Executive Committee, and was instrumental in many successful political campaigns, including those of his father; and

WHEREAS, In 1963, he received a certificate of appreciation from President Kennedy in "grateful recognition of valuable service contributed to the nation and the Selective Service System in the administration of the Universal Military Training and Service Act"; and

WHEREAS, Upon moving to Broward County, Florida, in 1975, he continued his career of public service; in the late 1970s, he served two terms as an elected councilman in Sea Ranch Lakes, Florida; in 1980 he was elected to serve as Mayor of Sea Ranch Lakes, and was re-elected in 1982 and 1984, serving a total of three terms in that office; as the Mayor of Sea Ranch Lakes he successfully improved municipal services, while significantly cutting costs; he also successfully fought the forced annexation of Sea Ranch Lakes into the City of Pompano Beach; and

WHEREAS, While his own public service ended in the 1980s, his passion for politics and public affairs continued to the time of his death, and he lived to see his own son, Martin, appointed, and then elected, as a Broward Circuit Court Judge, and his son, Joseph, elected as a Village Trustee in Fontana, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Neal Bidwill was blessed with a large, loving, Irish Catholic family and many close friends; he had a sharp, but playful, wit even to the end of his life, and he always enjoyed telling and re-telling a good story; he was an accomplished musician, he enjoyed reading and boating, tennis, golf, football, and horse racing, a cold beer, a friendly bet, and, at one time, a good cigar; he touched many, many lives, especially his family and close friends; and

WHEREAS, Neal Bidwill is survived by five children, Joseph Bidwill, Martin Bidwill, Mary Maxfield, Jane Soto, Catherine Stiffler, and their mother, Patricia; his daughters-in-law, Karol Bidwill and Michelle Bidwill; his sons-in-law Alex Soto, Eric Maxfield, and Daniel Stiffler; his fifteen grandchildren, Kathleen (and her husband Joe Ortiz), Connor, Arthur, Kacie, Veronica, Stephanie, Madeline, Amy, Sophia, Holden, Emma, Joseph, Eliza, Patrick, and Jack; his great-grandson, Joseph; his brother, Father Joseph Bidwill; his sister, Jane Maus and her husband, Bill; his longtime, devoted companion, Diane Whewell; and dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Neal Bidwill; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Neal Bidwill as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.