SR0909 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0909 LRB094 22117 KXB 60754 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to extend their condolences to the family and friends of Phyllis Sutker, of Skokie, Illinois, who passed away on November 13, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Phyllis Sutker was born in Chicago, Illinois; she graduated from Austin High School and Wright Junior College before receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago; she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sutker met her husband during their senior year of high school, and they were married in 1946; they moved to Skokie in 1958; and

WHEREAS, In the 1950's Mrs. Sutker joined Na'amat, which supports women's and children's issues in Israel; she went on to become its national president between 1981 and 1985; at the time of her passing she was a member of the Na'amat USA advisory board and of its Chicago Council; she represented the group in the Labor Zionist Movement and on committees and boards of the major Jewish organizations in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sutker was deeply involved in the Zionist movement; she was a national vice president of the American Zionist Movement and served on its Chicago region board; she also served as an elected member of the executive of the World Zionist Organization in the 1980s and 1990s and was elected as one of its honorary fellows in 1997; she was a delegate to six world Zionist Congresses; she was on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency between 1983 and 1992; and

WHEREAS, She was honored in 1988 by Israel Bonds of Chicago as a "Woman of Achievement"; working with these organizations and with Na'amat often sent her to Israel, where she befriended Leah Rabin, widow of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin; another friend was former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres; and

WHEREAS, Phyllis Sutker was preceded in death by her son, Edward, and her brother, David; and

WHEREAS, Phyllis Sutker was the beloved wife of Calvin R. Sutker; the devoted mother of Sharon Sutker McGowan (Jim McGowan), Shelley Sutker-Dermer (Kenneth Dermer), Edie Sue Sutker (fiance, David Richmond), and Allen (Karen) Sutker; the loving grandmother of Jennifer and Joshua McGowan, Elana and Jake Dermer, and Danielle, Nicole, Tommy, and Teddy Sutker; the beloved sister-in-law of Marsha Kline, Irwin (Carla) Sutker, and Ada (Beryl) Rabinowitz; the step-sister of Lloyd (Grace) Kline; and is fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the death of Phyllis Sutker; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Phyllis Sutker.