SR0478 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0478 LRB102 19955 LAW 28734 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Esther R. Cohen of Peoria, who passed away on August 14, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Esther Cohen was born to Solomon Rotenberg and Anne Sokol Rotenberg on September 28, 1930; she attended high school in Newton, Massachusetts; she earned her degree in Art History from Smith College in 1952; she was among the first 50 women to graduate from Harvard Business School in 1953; she married Robert Cohen in 1956, and they moved to Peoria with their daughter, Sheryl, in 1958; and

WHEREAS, After her father's unexpected death, Esther Cohen ran her father's real estate property management business in Boston in the 1950s; and

WHEREAS, After she moved to Peoria, Esther Cohen began a lifetime of tireless contributions to art and culture in Peoria; she created and chaired the Peoria Civic Opera, later Opera Illinois, bringing world-class opera to Peoria for decades; she served on the boards of Opera Guild International, the Illinois Arts Alliance, Eureka College, Heartland Festival Orchestra, and The Peoria Women's Club; she chaired the Peoria Art Guild and the Fine Art Fair; she served as chair of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, where she created the then-largest annual fundraiser, Hammerama; she also served as the president of the YWCA Board, chair of the YWCA Capital Campaign, and co-chair of YWCA Lakeview; and

WHEREAS, Esther Cohen was a member and chair of the Youth Farm League, now part of the Children's Home Association of Illinois, for decades; she was a lifelong conservationist and believed deeply in historic preservation; and

WHEREAS, Esther Cohen was recognized as a 2021 Local Legend by Peoria Magazines in July 2021; and

WHEREAS, Esther Cohen was known for her endless, unerring natural instinct of finding people's strengths while having compassion for their weaknesses; she breathed the essence of what was possible in all her family, friends, and the important ideas she championed; she will be sorely missed; and

WHEREAS, Esther Cohen is survived by her children, Sheryl (Michael Bork) Cohen, Les (Melissa) Cohen, and Jennifer Cohen; her grandchildren, Julian Cohen and Livia Cohen; her brothers, Michael (Karen) Rotenberg and Charles Rotenberg; and her many nieces and nephews; 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 Esther R. Cohen 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 Esther Cohen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.