SR0810 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0810 LRB102 25987 ECR 35387 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ruth Josephine Youngerman of Champaign, who passed away on December 28, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Youngerman was born to Isaac Kuhn and Rose Adler in Champaign on July 17, 1914; she graduated from the University School for Girls in Chicago; she then returned to Champaign and attended the University of Illinois, where she graduated from the College of Liberal Arts with a degree in Economics in 1935; she earned a degree in Business from the Simmons School for Women in Boston in 1936; she married Dr. William M. Youngerman in March 1938, and he preceded her in death in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Youngerman wrote advertising copy for her family's store, Joseph Kuhn & Co., until she was married with children; and

WHEREAS, In her younger adult years, Ruth Youngerman and her friends borrowed their parents' cars to ferry mothers and children to food banks and to Burnham and Mercy hospitals for pre-natal care and baby check-ups with volunteer doctors; in her later adult years, she cared for elderly friends who were ill by driving them to their medical appointments and mailing them New Yorker cartoons to raise their spirits, maintaining her lifelong habit of taking care of others; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Youngerman was a founding member of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra Board in 1959; she led fundraising and recruiting efforts to form the volunteer Symphony Guild and served as its first president in 1962; she was also instrumental in the opening of the Krannert Art Museum, where she participated in several group excursions led by the museum's director; she was a founding volunteer and contributor in forging the early connection of local WILL radio and TV station to the fledging national Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), which led to the arrival of Sesame Street and All Things Considered in downstate Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Youngerman received the distinction of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra dedicating its 60th anniversary performance to her, and the orchestra played Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in her honor, a piece she heard during the orchestra's first season; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Youngerman enjoyed swimming, golfing, and playing tennis; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Youngerman is survived by her children, Dr. William D. (Candace Branigan) Youngerman, Dr. Joseph K. (Ronnie Scharfman) Youngerman, and Kay Ann Youngerman; her nephew, Michael Wiese; her grandchildren, Ethan, Zach, and Erik; her twin step-grandchildren; and her three 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 Ruth Josephine Youngerman 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 Ruth Youngerman as an expression of our deepest sympathy.