SR0599 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0599 LRB094 19486 BDD 55320 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate was saddened to learn of the death of Bernard J. Lachner, who passed away on November 4, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lachner made many contributions in the field of health care both in the State of Illinois and nationwide; and

WHEREAS, An active student and football player, Mr. Lachner graduated from Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1945 and enrolled at the University of Notre Dame; after a year, he was drafted by the Army and served in Tokyo just after World War II ended; and

WHEREAS, After his discharge, Mr. Lachner attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he received his bachelor of science degree, followed by a masters degree in business administration from the University of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1954 Mr. Lachner moved to the Ohio State University Hospitals where he rose to the position of assistant dean of the College of Medicine and further served the University as a whole as the vice president for Administrative Operations; he was instrumental in the creation of the division of hospital and health Services administration, serving as its first director; and

WHEREAS, In the summer of 1972, Mr. Lachner accepted the position of president and chief executive officer of the Evanston Hospital Corp., which had never made an operational profit in its 100 years; he turned it from a money-losing operation into a nationally known center of excellence; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lachner also served as the chairman of the American Hospital Association and was inducted into the Modern Healthcare Health Care Hall of Fame in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lachner is survived by his wife Bonnie; three sons, Bernard (Michelle), Thomas (Beth) and James (Dorsey); and five grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Bernard J. Lachner and we extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bernard J. Lachner as an expression of our respect for the life of a man who was dedicated to making a difference in the world.