SR0824 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0824 LRB104 22141 RMO 38349 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Rachel Gansner of Chicago, who passed away on April 4, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner, the daughter of Judith Caplan and Richard Caplan, was born on December 15, 1980; she was raised in Lincoln Park, where she attended Francis W. Parker School and played softball; she later graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and earned a master's degree in education from DePaul University; she married Jeremy Gansner; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner was passionate about giving girls the opportunity to play baseball, starting the Warren Park Girls Fall Baseball League on the North Side of Chicago in 2024; her league began with approximately 25 players ages 6-9 who were divided into four teams, the Blue Sox, Comets, Peaches, and Belles, and it soon expanded to offering a second age division for girls ages 10-12; as a coach, she instilled confidence, empowerment, strength, and her love of the sport in her players; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner's family shared in her love of baseball, with her daughter playing in the league her mother started, her son serving as an occasional umpire, and her husband keeping score and doing play-by-play announcing; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner founded a baseball nonprofit, Let's Play Too, which focuses on expanding girls' access to the sport; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner loved spending time with her family and friends at parties in her backyard, enjoying barbecues, the fire pit, and music; she was also a devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner's legacy of uplifting young athletes will be continued by the Warren Park Youth Baseball Board, on which she formerly served as president; her legacy will be further cemented with a baseball field being named in her honor, and the Warren Park Fall Girls Baseball League will also bear her name; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner was preceded in death by her father, Richard (Tracy Salvia) Caplan; her father-in-law, Bruce Gansner; and her aunt, Millie (Herb Pozen) Goldstein; and

WHEREAS, Rachel Gansner is survived by her husband, Jeremy; her children, George and Eloise; her mother, Judith (James Roberts) Caplan; her mother-in-law, Victoria Gansner; her siblings, Seth (Kristen) Caplan, Gustav Caplan, and Sally Caplan; her brother-in-law, Joshua (Christine Licata) Gansner; and her nieces and nephews, Shiloh Cub, Lila, Louis, Cohen, Seth, Lincoln, and Dylan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Rachel Gansner 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 Rachel Gansner as an expression of our deepest sympathy.