SR0187 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0187 LRB096 12112 KXB 24239 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Val Gitlin of Woodstock, who passed away on February 12, 2009; and

WHEREAS, She was born March 27, 1932, in Garner, Iowa; on April 3, 1954, in Chicago, she married H. Joseph Gitlin; she graduated from Lutheran General Hospital School of Nursing; she was a registered nurse at the United States Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and she was a supervising nurse at the outpatient clinic of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, She was virtually a full-time volunteer, primarily for the Woodstock Opera House, through the Woodstock Fine Arts Association; her proudest activity was her chairmanship over several decades of the Creative Living Series at the Woodstock Opera House; the series for many years played to a full house; lecturers included Gwendolyn Brooks, Mortimer Adler, Studs Terkel, and Martha Stewart; many of the lecturers stayed at Val and Joe's home the night preceding the lecture; and

WHEREAS, She was known as an outstanding cook and entertainer; she had her recipes published in Bon Appetit magazine and served dinner in her home to the famed gourmet chef Jeff Smith, "The Frugal Gourmet;" she served as president of the board of the Woodstock Fine Arts Association for three terms; she produced the first grand opera at the Woodstock Opera House, "Pagliacci;" she also co-chaired a gala fundraiser for the building of the Opera House Annex (Stage Left Cafe); this event raised $265,000, a record for a single event fundraiser in McHenry County; and

WHEREAS, She was an elected public official, serving on the McHenry County Regional Board of School Trustees for 28 years, where she served as chairwoman before resigning; she was named Woodstock Woman of the Year by the Woodstock Professional and Business Women in 1990; in 2005 she received the Buschkopf Award, which is given to people who contribute to the quality of life in Woodstock and provide inspiration to people within the community; and

WHEREAS, She was a most capable interior decorator and landscaper; the Gitlin home was open for house walks to benefit McHenry County Memorial Hospital (now Centegra Hospital in Woodstock) three times, and her garden was open for a garden walk by the Woodstock Professional & Business Women in 2001; pictures of her garden appeared in Chicago Home & Garden, and the garden was photographed by Jessie Mahler for a book on gardens; and

WHEREAS, She was an avid reader; she was a member of the McHenry County's oldest book club for almost 45 years; her artistic activities were rug hooking and rosemaling, a Norwegian folk art form of oil painting of rose-inspired forms on wood, very often on chests; and

WHEREAS, Her daughter, Laura Gitlin-Petlak, preceded her in death; and

WHEREAS, She is survived by her husband; her son, Gunnar and his wife, Joanne; her son-in-law, Steve Petlak; and her grandchildren, Hannah Gitlin and Alisa Gitlin-Petlak and Miriam Gitlin-Petlak; her sisters, Eunice Zeigler and Norine Chalmers; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Val Gitlin; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Val Gitlin as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.