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90_SJ0072
SDS/90SJR0010/mrp
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The death of a former colleague is an occasion
3 of sadness for this General Assembly; and
4 WHEREAS, Grace Mary Stern began her distinguished
5 government career by being elected to the Lake County Board
6 in 1966 and in 1970 she was elected as Lake County Clerk, the
7 first Democrat to be elected countywide since the Civil War;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, In 1982, as the Democratic candidate for
10 Lieutenant Governor, and as the first woman slated by the
11 Democratic Party for Statewide office, Grace Mary Stern
12 brought a joyous enthusiasm to the campaign and she gained
13 prominence for her hard work and thoughtful expressions on
14 the issues confronting the people of the State of Illinois;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, Continuing her call to public service, in 1984
17 Grace Mary Stern was elected to the Illinois House of
18 Representatives of the 84th General Assembly and served with
19 distinction in that body in the 85th, 86th and 87th General
20 Assemblies by serving as Chairman of the Committee on Mental
21 Health and ably serving on the Committee on Judiciary II, the
22 Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, the
23 Committee on Small Business and many other committees; and
24 WHEREAS, In 1992, Grace Mary Stern was elected to the
25 Illinois State Senate of the 88th General Assembly, serving
26 on the Committee on Local Government and Elections and the
27 Committee on Judiciary and was frequently sought for her
28 opinions and counsel on issues of importance to all people of
29 Illinois; and
30 WHEREAS, Grace Mary Stern was known for her wonderful
31 sense of humor and in particular by adapting her own mirthful
-2- SDS/90SJR0010/mrp
1 lyrics to popular songs to satirize and commiserate the lives
2 of women, politicians and everyday life and the issues that
3 confront society in the General Assembly; and
4 WHEREAS, Grace Mary Stern won numerous honors and awards,
5 including the Illinois Association of School Boards Golden
6 Apple Award, the Highland Park Humanitarian Award, and the
7 YWCA of Lake and McHenry Counties Lifetime Achievement Award
8 and has been honored by the creation of the Grace Mary Stern
9 Scholarship Foundation which has been established for Women's
10 Studies at Roosevelt University; and
11 WHEREAS, Grace Mary Stern was an effective advocate for
12 improving the quality of education and mental health services
13 of the State and was a strong defender of individual rights;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, Grace Mary Stern was truly devoted to her
16 family, especially her husband, Herbert "Hub" Stern and their
17 children, Gwen, Herbert, Robert, Ann, Peter, Thomas, John, Jo
18 Ann, Mark and Leonard and their spouses, and their ten
19 grandchildren; and
20 WHEREAS, As Grace Mary Stern embarked upon her
21 legislative career in 1985, she penned these words to her
22 constituents which truly reflect her respect for the process
23 of government and politics, "Dear neighbor, you have launched
24 me on an unpredictable and challenging experience, and I'm
25 enjoying it enormously, even as I try to represent this
26 diverse district faithfully and energetically. Everything is
27 new, sometimes baffling and always exhilarating. When I
28 catch sight of the Capitol dome, gleaming over the Centennial
29 Building in the early morning sun, I really have a sense of
30 the history this place has seen and a kind of pride for my
31 part in it."; and
32 WHEREAS, Grace Mary Stern has left an indelible mark on
-3- SDS/90SJR0010/mrp
1 the politics and government of Illinois with her wit,
2 enthusiasm and stength, for she gave much more than she ever
3 received and did so unselfishly; therefore be it
4 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
5 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, That we hereby offer our sincerest
6 condolences to the family of Grace Mary Stern, for we share
7 their loss and we will always remember this happy warrior who
8 gave so much of herself for our State; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this preamble and
10 resolution be presented to the family of Grace Mary Stern as
11 a measure of our esteem for our beloved friend, mentor and
12 fellow legislator.