HR0202 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0202 LRB099 10903 MST 31595 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the untimely death of Andrew Patner on February 3, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Andrew Patner was born on December 17, 1959, the son of Irene and Marshall Patner; he grew up in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood and attended William H. Ray Elementary School and Kenwood High School; and

WHEREAS, After working as a staff assistant to Congressman Ralph H. Metcalfe in Washington, D.C., Andrew attended the University of Chicago, where he studied liberal arts and history and was editor-in-chief of The Chicago Maroon; he received his bachelor's degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, thesis of distinction, in 1985; and

WHEREAS, Andrew's amazing ability to communicate compelling stories, both verbally and in the written word, allowed him to share his talents with Chicago and the rest of the world; a published author, classical music writer, freelance writer, former reporter for The Wall Street Journal, former staff writer and editor at Chicago Magazine, and critic, host, and producer for Chicago's National Public Radio affiliate, WBEZ; he brought current events and the arts to life for his scores of readers and listeners; his significant talents were recognized with a 1984 Peter Lisagor Award for his coverage of race and politics leading up to Harold Washington's election as mayor of Chicago and the 2000 James Friend Memorial Award from The Friends of Literature for his criticism of the arts; and

WHEREAS, Andrew's love of the arts, especially the arts in Chicago, was unparalleled; he immersed himself in modern and contemporary art, European painting and sculpture, world cultures, photography, art history, and architecture; his multifarious interests and expansive breadth of knowledge allowed him to be as comfortable discussing local politics and Chicago history as he was critiquing the latest musical performance at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Andrew was critic-at-large for WFMT Fine Arts Radio Chicago, where he hosted the weekly conversation program Critical Thinking; his Critic's Choice commentaries were heard 3 times each week; and

WHEREAS, As a contributing critic to the Chicago Sun-Times, Andrew covered classical music and opera, theater and dance, art and architecture, cabaret, books, and film; he appeared as a commentator on cultural and political matters for WTTW 11 television; and

WHEREAS, Andrew was a pre-concert speaker and interviewer at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and accompanied the orchestra on numerous tours to Europe, the East Coast, Japan, and South America; he was a mainstay at all of Chicago's major cultural institutions, including the Lyric Opera, Steppenwolf Theater, the Art Institute, the Field Museum, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Chicago Humanities Festival; he lectured on modern and contemporary music at the Risor Chamber Music Festival in Risor, Norway; he taught students from around the world for the Soros Foundations/Open Society Institute Council; and he served as co-chair of the Interarts Council of The Arts Club of Chicago, member of the Visiting Committee to the Department of Music of the University of Chicago, and board member of KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, the Chicago Children's Choir, and the Independent Voters of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Andrew was a charter member of the Association of Literary Scholars and Critics, a founding member of the Chicago Art Critics Association, and a member of the Music Critics Association of North America, the Authors Guild, Inc., and the executive committee of the American Theater Critics Association; he was the first director of the Programs on Arts Policy at Columbia College Chicago and a director of the Minority High School Summer Journalism Camp at Roosevelt University; he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Andrew was known for his sense of humor and for his profound intelligence and his passion for Chicago; his sudden passing is a devastating loss for his family, his wide circle of friends, and all those who admired his work; and

WHEREAS, Andrew is survived by his partner, Tom Bachtell; his mother, Irene; and his brothers, Seth and Joshua; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family, friends, and colleagues, mourn the passing of Andrew Patner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Andrew Patner as an expression of our deepest sympathies and respect.