SR0080 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0080 LRB102 11917 LAW 17253 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of R. Emmett Fitzgerald, who passed away on January 17, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Emmett Fitzgerald was born in Alton to Daniel M. and Genevieve Degnan Fitzgerald on February 27, 1926; he attended St. Patrick's Grade School and Marquette Catholic High School in Alton; he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1946; he earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his Juris Doctorate from the Notre Dame Law School; he married Joan Marie Garrow at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Chicago on May 7, 1955, and she preceded him in death on February 13, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Emmett Fitzgerald began his legal career in Chicago as a law clerk for the late Justice Roger J. Kiley, who later served on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago; he returned to Alton in 1953, where he became an associate at the law firm of Virley, Eastman and Schlafly, which later became Schlafly, Godfrey and Fitzgerald and still later became Hoagland, Fitzgerald, Smith and Pranaitis, for a total of 64 years; and

WHEREAS, Emmett Fitzgerald belonged to a number of organizations, including the Alton Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the Alton-Wood River and Illinois State Bar Associations; he served on various boards, including St. Patrick's, St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, Marquette High School, Ursuline Convent, St. Anthony's Hospital, and the Alton Foundation; he also served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank, Mercantile Bank, and U.S. Bank in Alton; and

WHEREAS, Emmett Fitzgerald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and his siblings and their respective spouses, Daniel Jr., John (Helen), Genevieve (Harry) Kulp, Magalene, Edward (Marguerite), James (Katherine), Rosemary (James) Gilderslieve, and Margaret (James) Dimitroff; and

WHEREAS, Emmett Fitzgerald is survived by his children, Timothy (Kelly), Michael (Sue), Kathleen, Peter (Michelle), Daniel (Stephanie), and Maura (John) Sedlack; his grandchildren, Christopher Fitzgerald, Ryan Fitzgerald, Michael S. (Kelly) Fitzgerald, David (Catherine) Fitzgerald, Molly (Troy) Ferguson, Patrick (Laura) Fitzgerald, Joseph Fitzgerald, Maria and Jane Fitzgerald, Katherine, Daniel, and Mary Therese, and John E. Sedlack; and his nine great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of R. Emmett Fitzgerald 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 Emmett Fitzgerald as an expression of our deepest sympathy.