SR0841 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0841 LRB098 17392 MST 52491 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Joseph Shay of McHenry, who passed away on January 8, 2014; and

WHEREAS, John Shay was born on March 21, 1930 in Chicago to Harry and Margurite (nee Murphy) Shay; he attended Saint Philip Basilica High School in Chicago, Servite High School in Chicago, and the Novitiate at Mt. St. Philip in Granville, Wisconsin; he married Alyce Joyce Bykowski on October 4, 1958; and

WHEREAS, John Shay graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago in 1956 and became a licensed Illinois funeral director; he began working for George R. Justen & Son Funeral Home (now Justen Funeral Home & Crematory) in McHenry, where he also operated the ambulance service; he and his wife, opened Shay Music World on Green Street in 1960; he was also the director of the McHenry County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency from 1969 until his retirement in 1994, and had previously served as the civil defense director for McHenry; he was a long-time member of Company One of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District, where he served as secretary for many years; he was one of the founders and first commander of the Chain-O-Lakes Water Patrol, serving as a McHenry County Deputy Sheriff; and

WHEREAS, John Shay helped contribute a great deal to the safety and security of his community; he developed the mass casualty plan later adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as its prototype and worked with police agencies in the county to establish an organized response when a town is over-taxed by an incident; he produced a cable television show for 13 years called "Your Chance to Live" and was instrumental in establishing the Emergency Telephone System Board; he served as treasurer of the Illinois Emergency Number Association, past-President of the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association, and treasurer of the National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management, which honored him as outstanding local emergency manager in the United States; he was also past-President of the American Society of Professional Emergency Planners and active in the McHenry County Fire Chiefs Association, where he helped support and establish the MABAS system; he was a member of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and in 2008, the International Association of Fire Chiefs awarded him a lifetime membership; he served on the board that advised FEMA on integrated emergency management; in 1995, he was honored by the City of McHenry by being named the McHenry Fiesta Days parade marshal; and

WHEREAS, John Shay was a member of The Church of Holy Apostles in McHenry, where he served as President of the Pastoral Council, Director of Administrative Services, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, funeral coordinator, and was instrumental in the motivation and establishment of the first 24/7 Adoration Chapel in McHenry County; he was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #128, where he was a 4th degree knight; and

WHEREAS, John Shay was preceded in death by his parents, and by his sister, Maureen Delaney; and

WHEREAS, John Shay is survived by his wife of 55 years, Alyce; his sons, Kevin Shay and Darren (Debby) Shay; his grandchildren, Ryan (Kristina) Shay and Scott (Terri Butko) Shay; and his niece, Peggy Grandahl; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Joseph Shay, 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 John Shay as an expression of our deepest sympathy.