SR0074 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0074 LRB104 11944 ECR 22037 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Suzanne Gibson, Ph.D., who passed away on January 23, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson, the daughter of Robert and Ardene (Stroup) Sites, was born in Paxton on November 23, 1945; she earned a Bachelor of Arts from Valparaiso University, a Master of Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago, and a Ph.D. from Greenwich University; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson worked as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW); she was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) and a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), representing the highest level of expertise and excellence for LCSWs; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson served on the Barrington Area Refugee Fund Board of Directors, where she assisted unaccompanied minors from Southeast Asia as they adjusted to their new lives in the United States, and the Barrington Youth and Family Services Board of Directors; she also helped coordinate a mentoring program at Holy Family School in Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood, where she helped recruit and train young adult professionals to serve as mentors to eighth grade students; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson was a dedicated member of Rotary International, serving as president, international chair, and membership chair of the Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club from 2012 to 2013 and as assistant governor, community services advisory chair, and district governor, a position she held from 2019 to 2020, of Rotary International District 6640; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson led vocational training teams to introduce the health benefits of soy products and microenterprise skills to women in Sumpango and Sacatepequez, Guatemala; she led multiple global grants, including assisting a lab tech school for young women in Guatemala and starting a dental assistant program; she also passionately supported a project to plant breadfruit trees in Guatemala to help with nutrition, economic development, and reforestation; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson helped guide several other global grants, including tutoring students and helping older people with dementia in Taiwan; she participated in friendship exchanges to Taiwan and South Africa; she was also involved with the installation of a peace bench in Jaipur, India and the participation of a National Immunization Day in India to help vaccinate children against polio; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson received a number of accolades, including being named Rotarian of the Year in 2011, receiving the President's Citation for Outstanding Service and Dedication Award by the Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club for year 2015-2016, and earning the Shining Light Award in recognition of humanitarian service by District 6640 in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson enjoyed traveling, including visiting all seven continents, running, walking, golfing, bicycling, reading, researching genealogy, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and extended family; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson served as a blessing to her family, her friends, her community, and the world; she touched many people with her kindness in both her professional and personal lives; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson was preceded in death by her husband, Mark; her son, Jonathan; and her parents; and

WHEREAS, Suzanne Gibson is survived by her children, Kristin Kirk and Robert (Talia) Gibson; three granddaughters; and her siblings, Greg (Joyce) Sites, Carolyn (Jim) Miller, and Janet (Jim) Cheverud; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Suzanne Gibson, Ph.D. and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Suzanne Gibson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.