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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Richard Thomas "Dick" Gainey of Coal 
4Valley, who passed away on July 16, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Dick Gainey was born in Erie to Stacey and Harriet 
6Gainey on February 26, 1926; he served in the United States 
7Marines during World War II and participated in the Battle of 
8Okinawa and the occupation of Japan; he married Agnes Van den 
9Berghe in September 1951; the first in his family to go to 
10college, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical 
11Engineering from Bradley University in 1952; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Dick Gainey began his career at John Deere; in 
131957, he moved to California to pursue a career in aerospace; 
14he worked on the environmental control system for the Apollo 
15command module, specifically the oxygen pressure regulator, 
16water valve, and cryogenic tanks; later, he was the responsible 
17engineering authority for a space-qualified, closed-loop 
18cryogenic cooler to cool infrared sensors to ten degrees 
19kelvin; he was instrumental in the development of the Maverick 
20Missile, which is still in use today; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Dick Gainey was an active member of St. James 
22Catholic Church in Redondo Beach for over 50 years; following 
 
 
SR0662- 2 -LRB101 13882 ALS 62745 r

1his retirement, he and Agnes ran the church's program for the 
2homeless for over 20 years; recently, they received the Shining 
3Star Award for their service to the parish community; and
  
 
  
4    WHEREAS, Dick Gainey is survived by his wife of 68 years, 
5Agnes; his children, James (Susan), Daniel, Steven (Debra), and 
6Jeanine (Keith); his grandchildren, Kathryn, Kristopher, 
7Kimberly, Kylene, Kurtis, Patrick, Timothy, Maren, Ryanne, 
8Neil, and Angela; his six great-grandchildren; and his sister, 
9Mary Newton; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12Richard Thomas "Dick" Gainey and extend our sincere condolences 
13to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be 
14it further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to the family of Dick Gainey as an expression of our 
17deepest sympathy.