SR0270 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0270 LRB097 12392 KXB 56858 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald Stuart Wilson Chew of Oak Park, who passed away on June 7, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Stuart Wilson Chew was born on July 15, 1933, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Marjorie Oberhaltzer and Russell Chew; he was married to Karla Hoover Chew, his partner in peace, for 49 years; and

WHEREAS, He was an insurance statistician, teacher, and Korean War veteran; he graduated from Michigan State University (B.A.) and Roosevelt University (M.A.) in economics; he enjoyed canoeing, skiing, camping, biking, jogging, and hiking (especially in the mountains); he was a social activist for peace, labor, economic, environmental justice, and poverty, volunteered at the Columbus Park Food Pantry and West Suburban PADS, and was a member of Veterans for Peace and the Oak Park Committee for Truth and Justice; and

WHEREAS, He was a generous contributor to over 65 organizations, including earthquake relief in Haiti, UUSC-UUA, Partners for Peace, Habitat for Humanity, Oxfam, Lambi Fund, Pakistan flood relief, several American Indian educational organizations, and Iraq Veterans Against the War; he also spent several weeks volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans over several years following Hurricane Katrina; and

WHEREAS, He was a member and past president of Third Unitarian Church of Chicago and past president of Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community; he could frequently be seen with the group holding anti-war signs at the Austin Boulevard ramp above the Eisenhower Expressway during the early years of the Iraq war.; he and his wife worked with Dick Simpson to found the IVI-IPO (Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization); he was a longtime member of the Democratic Party of Oak Park and worked for progressive candidates in Oak Park, Chicago, and surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, Ron Chew is survived by his wife, Karla; his son, Ryan Chew (Lindsay Beller); his daughter, Tracey Kugelard (Glenn); his grandsons, Jackson and Carter Kugelard; his sisters, Barbara Roy (David) and Nancy Kitch (Gerald); a niece, 2 nephews, and 10 grandnephews and grandnieces, plus his Irish Doodle puppy, Mollie; therefore, be it

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

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