SR0176

LRB096 12114 KXB 24241 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3
learn of the death of Stephen J. Laing of Woodstock, who passed 
4
away on February 1, 2009; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, He was born June 3, 1939, in Chicago, to James E. 
6
and Lorraine E. nee McCabe Laing; he married Sharon "Shari" 
7
Gould on May 5, 1962, in Woodstock; and

 
8
    WHEREAS, After his education, he joined the United States 
9
Marine Corps and served from 1957 to 1960; after his tour of 
10
duty, he started a lifelong journey as a firefighter; he got 
11
his start in fire service in Wonder Lake on the Highland Shores 
12
Rescue Squad in 1960 and continued with that department until 
13
1980, retiring as assistant chief; in 1972, he began his 
14
full-time career on the Skokie Fire Department and retired from 
15
there in 1996 as a lieutenant; in 1980, after moving to 
16
Woodstock, he joined the Woodstock Fire & Rescue Department and 
17
retired as captain in 1991; he began his career with the 
18
McHenry Township Fire Protection District in 1987, leading the 
19
fire prevention bureau and moving up to the rank of assistant 
20
chief when he retired in 2006; the past few years he had been 
21
working as a consultant in the fire prevention bureau for 
22
Woodstock; and

 
 


 






SR0176
- 2 -
LRB096 12114 KXB 24241 r




1
    WHEREAS, He was an avid NASCAR fan, especially of Dale 
2
Earnhardt Sr., and he loved the Bears; and

 
3
    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine; 
4
and his father-in-law, Lloyd Gould; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, 
6
friend and mentor to many; he is survived by his wife of 47 
7
years, Shari; his father, James E. Laing; his son, Steve R. 
8
(Beth) Laing; four grandchildren, Alex, Cassie, Megan, and 
9
Bridget Laing; his brothers, Michael (Sharon) Laing and Jim 
10
Laing; his sister, Victoria (Tom) Helin; his mother-in-law, 
11
Dorothy J. Gould; and his brothers-in-law, Dan (Cheri) Gould 
12
and Alan (Bernadette) Gould; therefore, be it

 
13
    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
14
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
15
his family and friends, the passing of Stephen Laing; and be it 
16
further

 
17
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18
presented to the family of Stephen Laing as a symbol of our 
19
sincere sympathy.