SR0589 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0589 LRB103 35108 LAW 65065 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ruth A. (Cohen) Colby, who was born on on February 8, 1954 and passed away on October 15, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Colby served as the president and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital since October 1, 2017, previously serving as senior vice president and chief strategy officer for 12 years; under her leadership, the hospital earned national recognition in safety, quality, and experience, and it opened Will County's first and only Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in 2022, introduced an open-heart surgery program in 2019, and championed the Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross in 2012; she also forged partnerships with several leading Chicago health systems, including the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, University of Chicago Medicine for cancer services and neurosciences, the Rush University Medical Center for lung surgery, the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital for pediatric and neonatal services, and US HealthVest to build the 110-bed Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital on the Silver Cross Campus, which opened in early 2019; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Ruth Colby worked closely with the board of directors of Silver Cross Hospital to set the organization's vision and strategic direction; her exceptional business acumen and visionary leadership led to transformational growth for Silver Cross Hospital over the years, expanding from a 289-bed hospital when the hospital opened its New Lenox campus in 2012 to 348 beds today, with medical staff members increasing from 350 to more than 1,200; she also expanded the hospital's footprint through successful ventures in surgery, imaging services, and medical group expansions, with the hospital now having more than a dozen locations throughout its service area in Will County; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Colby's passion for achieving health equity and helping the less advantaged in the hospital's service area, particularly on the east side of Joliet, led to the creation of the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission (HCC) in 2008; under her guidance, this community-based organization has been focused on creating a stronger, healthier future by providing support for education, workforce development training, and enrichment activities for youth to improve the quality of life for the communities served, and it has awarded over $3 million in educational scholarships, workforce development, and grants to numerous east-side Joliet residents and organizations since its founding; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Colby was also very active in healthcare associations and organizations; she served as chair-elect of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) and was slated to become chair in 2024; recently, she had also been appointed to the American Hospital Association's Regional Planning Board for Region 5; she was also a past president of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, an American Hospital Association group; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Colby was a passionate advocate for the community, generously giving her time and talents to numerous community boards, including as chair of the Will County Center for Economic Development, on the board of the Will County Children's Advocacy Center, and as a member of the United Way of Will County Pillars Society, the Joliet Rotary Club, and the Economic Club of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Colby was the recipient of numerous accolades, including receiving a national award for Individual Personal Achievement from the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development in 2009, being named a Notable Woman in Healthcare and a Notable Woman Executive over age 50 by Crain's Chicago Business in 2019, receiving the Athena Award from the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2021, and being named the New Lenox Citizen of the Year by the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce and a Notable Healthcare Executive by Crain's Chicago Business, both in 2023; at the time of her passing, she was to receive the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rainbow Council of the Boy Scouts; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Colby was the wife of Donald M. DeFrank; the mother of David (Becky Riffkin) Chodak; the sister of Judy (Steven) Dolins; the sister-in-law of Sue DeFrank and Joan Beeler; and the aunt of Maddie Dolins, First Lieutenant Dr. Michael (Meredith) Beeler of the USN, and Gabi Kastel; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ruth A. (Cohen) Colby 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 Colby as an expression of our deepest sympathy.