92_SR0587

 
                                               LRB9218461KFkf

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois  were  saddened  to  learn  of  the death of Patrick
 4    Joseph Cunningham of New York on December 3, 2002; and

 5        WHEREAS, Mr. Cunningham was born in Harlem on  March  12,
 6    1928;  he  was  the first person in his family to finish high
 7    school; he  graduated  from  Fordham  College  and  New  York
 8    University Law School; in World War II, he served in the Navy
 9    in the Pacific; and

10        WHEREAS,  In  1954, he began a private legal practice and
11    became a noted attorney in the metropolitan area, as well  as
12    becoming  Chairman  of  the Bronx County Democratic Party and
13    Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party;  after  many
14    years of service, he resigned from the leadership of both the
15    State and the Bronx party in 1978; and

16        WHEREAS,  Perhaps the most enjoyable job he held was that
17    as general counsel  for  the  Yankees  and  then  as  general
18    partner  in  1974;  he  signed  the  contract,  then  by  far
19    baseball's  biggest,  to  bring the pitcher Catfish Hunter to
20    the Bronx in 1975; and

21        WHEREAS, His passing will  be  deeply  felt  by  all  his
22    friends  and family, especially his wife, Mary; his children,
23    Stephen, Philip, Christine, Peter Paul, and Patrick Jr.;  his
24    two  sisters,  Mary  Hurley  and  Kay  Smith;  and his eleven
25    grandchildren; therefore, be it

26        RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-SECOND  GENERAL
27    ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of
28    Patrick  Joseph Cunningham and extend our sincere condolences
29    to all who knew and loved him; and be it further

30        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
31    presented to the family of Patrick Joseph Cunningham.