SR0577 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0577 LRB100 12778 MST 27361 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert "Bob" Vincent Walsh of Berwyn, who passed away on June 14, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh was born in Chicago to Robert and Marietta (Battaglia) Walsh on April 18, 1959, the oldest of five children and only boy; he attended Ascension Catholic School and graduated from St. Giles School in 1973; he graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in 1977 and from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1981 with majors in English and government; he attended the Loyola University Chicago School of Law from 1984 to 1987, where he was the President of the Loyola Computer Law Group, editor of the Loyola Journal of Computers and the Law, and won the Leadership and Service Award; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh was passionate about politics and government from a young age; he served as a staffer for various elected officials, including United States Representatives Marty Russo and Bobby Rush, U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun, and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh's sense of justice led him to work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for many years; he acted in a number of roles, including as lead equal opportunity specialist and as acting-Midwest departmental spokesman; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh consistently exhibited his strengths in communications and negotiations when he became co-mediator and co-owner of a specialized family law firm that worked to help families going through divorce by diffusing conflict and by reaching positive resolutions; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh was most recently employed by the Kenneth Young Center, a provider of mental health support services, as a parent mentor, where he worked one-on-one with parents of children with emotional and behavioral difficulties, offering support, guidance, and intervention; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh had an incredible spirit of openness and volunteerism; he was a longtime supporter of the Hephzibah Children's Home, acting as a student mentor and homework helper; additionally, he was the first openly gay member of the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education, serving from 2001 to 2005; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh was known by family and friends to be a wonderful and gifted writer, a great researcher of any purchase to be made, particularly cars, a big-hearted animal lover, especially for dogs, Mickey and Tilly, and lizard, Barry; he was a passionate gardener, a trait nurtured by his grandfather, Samuel Battaglia; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh's greatest passion was his family, his partner of 14 years, Jim Jajkowski, his son Aidan, and his daughter, Hannah; whatever they needed came first and he put all of his heart and efforts into making a loving and caring home for them; and

WHEREAS, Bob Walsh is survived by his children, Aidan and Hannah Walsh; his partner, Jim Jajkowski; his parents, Robert and Marietta Walsh; his sisters, Julie (Chuck) Fabrizius, Marie (Kevin) White, Therese (Michael) Cormack, and Beth Walsh (Kirk Sweeney); Jim's siblings, Michael (Betsy) Jajkowski, Kathy (the late James) Pawlak, and Robert Jajkowski; and many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert "Bob" Vincent Walsh, 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 Bob Walsh as an expression of our deepest sympathy.