SR1395 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1395 LRB100 19020 MST 34274 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Walter Edward Pilditch, who passed away on December 24, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch was born in Chicago to Howard and Edith Pilditch on April 30, 1931; he was baptized at Beverly's St. Paul's Bible Church, where he remained a member all his life; he joined St. Paul's Boy Scout Troop 608 in 1942, eventually earning Scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout and serving as Scoutmaster and the Troop's Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch attended Vanderpoel Elementary School and graduated from Morgan Park High School, where he earned membership in the Tau Epsilon Scholastic Society, served as a member of the student administration, and was inducted into the National Honor Society; he attended Wilson Junior College and the Chicago Teachers' College, earning his degree in education, and eventually earning a master's degree from Northwestern University and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch began teaching at Felsenthal Elementary School when he was drafted during the Korean War; he served in the United States Army Signal Corps, earning the rank of Sergeant; he returned to Felsenthal Elementary School and continued his education, joining the University of Chicago's first administrative internship program; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch married Joyce Gach, a widow with two young children, in 1966, and together they welcomed another son; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch passed the principal's examination in 1968, serving first at Jungman Elementary School for 10 years and then at his alma mater, Morgan Park High School, where he employed his policy of "Management by Walking Around" and utilized innovative automated "wake up calls" to reduce tardiness and truancy; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch moved to Curie High School and then served the district in the Office of Accountability; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch was twice elected to the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF) Board of Trustees, serving from 1995 until 2001; he was also a member and president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch retired from CPS in 2001 after 45 years of service; he was elected to the CTPF Board of Trustees as a pensioner representative in 2003 and re-elected seven more times, most recently in November of 2017; he served in many leadership roles including vice president and financial Secretary and as chairman of the Pension Law and Rules, Finance and Audit, and Claims and Service Credits committees; he was also a member of almost every committee; and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch contributed to numerous organizations, serving on the executive committee for the Beverly Area Planning Association, on the Chicago Retired Teachers Aid Fund, as a Chicago Science Fair Judge, and as a Local School Council Community Representative; he was involved with several groups including the Archer Road Kiwanis Organization, the Beverly Improvement Association, the Beverly Ridge Lions Club, and the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago (RTAC); and

WHEREAS, Walter Pilditch has been recognized with distinguished service awards from the Aquin Guild and the Assistant Principals Association; he also received the Armstrong Award from RTAC and Scouting's highest recognition, the Silver Beaver Award; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Walter Pilditch, 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 Walter Pilditch as an expression of our deepest sympathy.