SR0009 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0009 LRB101 05879 ALS 50899 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Judy Abruscato of Wheeling, who passed away on December 28, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Judy Abruscato was born in 1934 and, after the death of her parents, was raised by her grandmother; at the age of 13, she won her first election when she was voted student president at her elementary school; she started working in a Chicago store, where she decorated windows, at age 14; before she turned 16, she began working at a bank, showing other employees how to fill out statements and file; in 2013, at the age of 78, she celebrated her 35th anniversary at MB Financial, where she worked as the Wheeling Branch Manager and Vice President; and

WHEREAS, After moving to Wheeling with her husband in 1969, Judy Abruscato became active in the community; she served on the village's Zoning Board of Appeals and then as a village trustee for 22 years; she was elected president in 2009, a position she held until 2013; and

WHEREAS, Judy Abruscato's community involvement went beyond her service in village government; she was also active in the Wheeling High School Parent Teacher Organization, the Wheeling High School Instrumental League, the Wheeling Lioness Club, the Wheeling Rotary Club, the Wheeling and Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Wheeling Garden Club, the Wheeling Historical Society, and the Wheeling Senior Center Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Judy Abruscato's accomplishments include starting the holiday Festival of Lights, the Taste of Wheeling, and the Fourth of July fireworks; she also helped secure bulletproof vests for police officers and worked on a program to reimburse businesses for improving their building facades; she dedicated decades of her life to all facets of community service and was the definition of what it means to be a public servant; her influence will continue for many years to come; and

WHEREAS, Judy Abruscato was the loving wife of the late Mario; the beloved mother of Valerie (Alden Lewis) Abruscato and Tony (Sam Griffith) Abruscato, the cherished nana of Nicholas and Jackson, and the loving aunt and friend of many; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Judy Abruscato 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 Judy Abruscato as an expression of our deepest sympathy.