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92_HR0755
LRB16484RHrhA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to express their sincere condolences to
4 the family and friends of John L. Stephens, who passed away
5 on February, 8, 2002; and
6 WHEREAS, When John L. Stephens became involved in a
7 community project, he was often the force that drove it to
8 success; as chairman of the board of Edward Hospital and
9 president of the Naperville Heritage Society, Mr. Stephens
10 helped to make the organizations the successes they are
11 today; and
12 WHEREAS, John L. Stephens was born in Chicago on
13 September 18, 1931 and raised in the Englewood area; he
14 graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in
15 1953 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and was a
16 member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity; that same year he
17 married his college sweetheart, Kay Leonard Stephens; and
18 WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens started work in the mail room at
19 Harris Bank in Chicago, working his way through the ranks to
20 eventually become executive vice president of corporate and
21 employee relations administration; he was division chairman
22 and an executive committee member of the American Bankers
23 Association and a graduate, lecturer, and section leader of
24 the Wisconsin School of Banking; he retired from Harris Bank
25 in 1989; and
26 WHEREAS, The Stephens family moved to Naperville in 1964
27 and Mr. Stephens began a variety of community work; many
28 Naperville organizations benefited from the tireless hours
29 Mr. Stephens gave as a volunteer, in particular, he made his
30 mark by working hard for the betterment of two of the
31 cornerstones of Naperville, Edward Hospital and Naper
32 Settlement; and
-2- LRB16484RHrhA
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens played a huge part in leading the
2 Naperville Heritage Society due to his strong interest in
3 preserving the past; he was a charter member, joining just
4 after its inception in 1969, and was very influential in the
5 development of Naper Settlement, one of the finest historical
6 re-creations in the United States; for most of 22 years, Mr.
7 Stephens served on the society's board of directors and was
8 president of the Heritage Society from 1993 to 2002; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens served on the Board of Trustees of
10 Edward Hospital from 1987 to 1997, helping to expand the
11 small community hospital to a regional medical center; he
12 served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1990 through
13 1997 and as Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee from 1997
14 through 2002; in addition, he served on the Human Resources
15 Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Executive
16 Committee, the Edward Foundation Board, and the Edward Health
17 Ventures Board; and
18 WHEREAS, To recognize Mr. Stephens for his many
19 contributions to Edward Hospital, an auditorium at the
20 hospital was dedicated in his name, the John L. Stephens
21 Auditorium, after he retired from the hospital board in the
22 late 1990s; in addition, he received the Illinois Hospital
23 Association's Excellence in Governance Award in 1991 for
24 outstanding service to a health care organization; and
25 WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens retired as chairman of the
26 personnel board of the city of Naperville in 2002; he also
27 served as board president of Little Friends Inc., an
28 organization that helps the disabled residents of DuPage
29 County and served as director of the Chicago Jaycees, where
30 he was chosen to receive their Distinguished Service Award;
31 in addition, he served as board vice chairman and director of
32 Junior Achievement of Chicago; and
-3- LRB16484RHrhA
1 WHEREAS, The passing of John L. Stephens will be deeply
2 felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Kay
3 Stephens; his son, John K. (Carla) Stephens; his daughters,
4 Ginger (Bruce) Terlep, Dr. Susan Kay Stephens, and Jane (Dan)
5 Rogers; his grandchildren, Jamie, John C., Claire, and Ann
6 Stephens, Tom, Peter, and Mickey Terlep, and Haley and Kit
7 Rogers; his brother, Norval (Diane) Stephens; and his many
8 dear friends, colleagues, and the residents of Naperville,
9 Illinois; therefore, be it
10 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12 we mourn, along with all who knew him, the death of John L.
13 Stephens of Naperville, Illinois; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to the family of John L. Stephens with our sincere
16 condolences.