Full Text of SR1647 099th General Assembly
SR1647 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of former Illinois Senate President | 4 | | Philip J. Rock, who passed away on January 29, 2016; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, President Rock was born in Chicago to Joe and | 6 | | Kathryn Rock on May 4, 1937 and grew up on the northwest side; | 7 | | he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and earned his | 8 | | bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of St. Mary | 9 | | of the Lake in Mundelein; he earned his law degree from the | 10 | | Loyola University School of Law in Chicago; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, President Rock was elected in 1971 and served as | 12 | | Senator for 22 years; he was elected Senate President in 1979, | 13 | | serving for 14 years, until 1993; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, President Rock served as Democratic Committeeman | 15 | | for Oak Park Township for 22 years, and as Suburban Chairman | 16 | | for the Cook County Democrats for more than a decade; he also | 17 | | served as State Democratic Chairman; and | 18 | | WHEREAS, President Rock authored more than 450 laws during | 19 | | his time in the Senate and championed many causes to improve | 20 | | the lives of children, including reforms in special education, | 21 | | child adoption, foster care, domestic violence, and child |
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| 1 | | support; he also advanced laws to establish the State's first | 2 | | child abuse and neglect reporting act and mandatory insurance | 3 | | coverage for newborns; one of his most cherished and signature | 4 | | accomplishments was when he helped create the nation's first | 5 | | public school for individuals who are deaf and blind; the Glen | 6 | | Ellyn-based school for the deaf and blind was ultimately | 7 | | renamed the Philip J. Rock Center and School in 1987 to honor | 8 | | his efforts; and | 9 | | WHEREAS, President Rock was known as a talented orator and | 10 | | for his decency, honesty, and non-partisan approach, working | 11 | | with everyone irrespective of party affiliation; he was also | 12 | | known for his positive attitude and for trying to do the right | 13 | | thing for the State of Illinois; he hosted many backyard | 14 | | barbecues to promote good will and collegiality among | 15 | | lawmakers; and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, After leaving office, President Rock returned to | 17 | | private law practice with his dear friend, Daniel R. Fusco; he | 18 | | later chaired the Illinois Board of Higher Education and headed | 19 | | the Equal Justice Illinois Committee, which fought for | 20 | | increased State funding of civil legal aid; and
| 21 | | WHEREAS, President Rock often said he was born a Catholic, | 22 | | a Democrat, and a Chicago Cubs fan, but not necessarily in that | 23 | | order; he was known for his sense of humor, his commitment and |
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| 1 | | devotion to his family, and his profound sense of obligation to | 2 | | helping those in need; and
| 3 | | WHEREAS, President Rock is survived by his beloved wife of | 4 | | 51 years, Sheila; his children, Kathleen (Steve) Snow, Meghan | 5 | | (Todd) Simmons, Colleen (John) Mueller, and John J. "Jay" | 6 | | (Lauren) Rock; his twelve grandchildren, Emily, Erin, Lily, and | 7 | | Ellie Snow, Kyleigh, Connor, and Maggie Simmons,
Jack, Owen, | 8 | | and Kate Mueller, and Julia and Sarah Rock; and his brother, | 9 | | Michael; therefore, be it
| 10 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL | 11 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 12 | | former Illinois Senate President Philip J. Rock, and extend our | 13 | | sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew | 14 | | and loved him; and be it further
| 15 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 16 | | presented to the family of President Rock as an expression of | 17 | | our deepest sympathy.
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