SR0461 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0461 LRB097 14828 KXB 59857 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Sarah Sandra Hutchinson of Chicago, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Sarah Sandra Hutchinson (nee, Smith), the 7th child of Lloyd Gaston and Lucy Smith, was born in the Dutch West Indies Island of Aruba on February 19, 1939; she spent the first years of her life on this island paradise with her older siblings and parents; her father, who would be made Knight Commander After the Order of Orange-Nassau (the Royal House of The Netherlands), protected and managed the Lago Oil Refinery as its President, which was strategic to the Allied war effort; she and her family soon returned to their home in Manhasset, New York, where she completed her primary and high school career, excelling in academics as well as in music; and

WHEREAS, In 1956, she was admitted to the prestigious Conservatory of Music at Oberlin University in Oberlin, Ohio, to begin her studies as a concert pianist; however, it became clear that her generous spirit called her to dedicate her life to helping others and she decided to change her major to Psychology, so that she could go on to study social work; she was active in a number of campus activities, including the campus chapter of the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, In 1958, she met Eugene Hutchinson on a blind date to Kenyon College; they courted for 2 years and were married on August 27, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; she moved to Madison, Wisconsin and worked at the University Hospital as a nurse's aide, while her husband finished up law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and

WHEREAS, Soon after the couple's move to the Chicago community of Hyde Park in 1962, Sarah began to work for the Cook County Department of Public Aid; in 1965, she enrolled at Loyola University to pursue a Masters of Social Work degree; after completing her degree in 1967, she continued to work professionally as a social worker in various roles; she worked at the Department of Children and Family Services, Lutheran Social Services, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, and finished up her career at Grant/Lincoln Park Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Until 2007, she worked as a part-time fill-in social worker at various Chicago-area hospitals; she was also active in her Block Club as Secretary and donated to various social causes and charities around the world; and

WHEREAS, She always looked for an opportunity to see the world with family and her long-time friend, Elsie Shimm; her last whirlwind tour took her on a cruise of the Caribbean, where she was able to visit her birth-land of Aruba, and celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband in August of 2010; and

WHEREAS, Sarah Hutchinson was cherished and loved by many friends and relatives whom she touched in countless ways throughout the years; she leaves behind her husband, Eugene; her brother, Gerry (Ellen); her sisters, Lucy and Marje; her sons, Osei (Anita), Paul (Toi), Lloyd, and Jacob; her grandchildren, Paul Jr., Camryn, Ryan, Tendaji, and Asha; her cat, Tiger; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family around the globe; therefore, be it

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

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