SR1583 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1583 LRB100 21463 MST 38171 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, who passed away on April 2, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey was born on the family farm near Amboy to William R. and Aileen (Brady) Morrissey on August 16, 1929; early on, he learned discipline by milking cows at 5 a.m. every day, bailing hay, and feeding pigs and chickens; he scrapped metal and sold eggs to make side money during World War II; he attended St. Anne Elementary School and graduated from Amboy High School in 1947 and St. Ambrose University in 1951; he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1958; and

WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey worked in the State Farm Claims Department until 1964 when he began a private law practice in Rockford, concentrating in personal injury claims for over 50 years; and

WHEREAS, On December 13, 1978, Joe Morrissey took his last drink of alcohol and his first step into Alcoholics Anonymous, where he not only received the help he needed, but gave back by helping numerous others; and

WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey loved the community of Rockford and spent countless hours and nearly all of his life savings to help redevelop downtown Rockford and other impoverished parts of the city; and

WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey enjoyed practicing his Catholic faith, gardening, morning coffee with his buddies, and campaigning for his son, former Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey; and

WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Michael Joseph Morrissey; his brothers, Robert, John "Tiny", and Reverend William Morrissey; his sisters, Rosie and Bette; his brothers-in-law, Leroy Goy, Doug Koch, George Hawks, Louis Wilhelm, Alvin Glenn, Gene Carroll, Lloyd Considine, Jack Scorby, and Joe (Marge) Matranga; his brother and sister-in-law, Cosmo and Antonette Matranga; three infant Matranga brothers-in-law; his nephew and godson, Tim Considine; and his nephews, Jay Hawks and Brian Goy; and

WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey is survived by his wife, Josephine; his kids, Bill (Melissa), Eileen (Joe), and Larry (Stacy); his grandchildren, Larissa, Joseph, Josh, Matt, Andrew, Grace, Seanna, Sophia, Dillon, and AJ; his sisters, Rita, Lois, Frances, Monica, Barb, and Colleen; his sisters-in-law, Corrine and Linda; and his brother, Larry; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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