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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death of Robert Francis Bernard of Burr Ridge, who 
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passed away on February 2, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Robert Francis Bernard was born in Chicago on May 
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23, 1961; he was the co-founder of Whittman-Hart in 1984, his 
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information technology consulting firm named after characters 
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in the movie "The Paper Chase"; he was KPMG's High Tech 
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Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992, Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur 
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of the Year in 1997, and Crain's Chicago Business Executive of 
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the Year in 1999; he was serving as CEO of Whittman-Hart, a 
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successor company, with offices in nine U.S. cities at the time 
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of his passing; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He supported Children's Memorial Hospital, and 
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Marklund Foundation; he was a director of APAC Corporation; he 
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was involved in the Hinsdale/Burr Ridge community, serving as a 
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coach for his children's soccer program, T-ball and basketball 
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teams, and participating with his daughter in Indian 
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Princesses; he was an active member of the Clarendon Hills 
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Community Presbyterian Church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 2000 he allowed his corporate jet to be used to 
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transport a cardiac surgeon enroute to harvest a heart for a 
 


 






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transplant; the heart was harvested, transplanted, and the 
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child's life was saved; and

 
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    WHEREAS, His passions included Chicago sports, especially 
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the beloved Chicago Cubs; he was an avid golfer and member of 
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Edgewood  Valley Country Club; and he was a participant in the 
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Chicago Marathon; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Robert Francis Bernard is survived by his wife, 
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Elisa Fryer Bernard; his children, Kendal Elisabeth and Bryce 
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Robert; his parents, Sandra and Charles Homola; his sister, 
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Robin (Bill) Lewis; his grandmother, Mildred Toberman; his 
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aunt, Sharon Toberman; his niece, Brittany Lewis; and his 
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nephews, Billy and Bradley Lewis and Nolan Thomas Fryer; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Robert Francis Bernard; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Robert Francis Bernard as a symbol 
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of our sympathy.