HR0829 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0829 LRB099 15020 GRL 39221 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Roland Charles Baker; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker was born in Chicago and attended St. Anselm School until the age of 13, when his family relocated to Los Angeles, California; he earned his Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Southern California; he also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker had a long and distinguished career in the life insurance and related financial services industries and served on many board positions; he began his career at Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company in Los Angeles before serving at Colonial Penn Group as executive vice president and director of Colonial Penn Insurance, Colonial Penn Franklin Insurance, and Colonial Penn Life Insurance Companies; he served as chairman, president, and CEO of the Signature Group in Schaumburg and was chairman and CEO of Old American Insurance Company, a life and health insurer; he was the founder and CEO of Baker, Rakich, Shipley, & Politzer, consultants to the financial services industry; prior to his retirement, he served as CEO of First Penn Pacific Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Lincoln Financial Group, in Oakbrook Terrace and Schaumburg; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Roland Baker proudly maintained his California certified public accountant license; he was a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Fellow of the Life Insurance Management Institute; he approached his business career with passion and purpose and developed many close and loyal friendships through his work; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker was a member of the board of the Court Theater at the University of Chicago; throughout the years, he provided significant support and guidance as a board member of numerous other organizations, including the Challenger Boys & Girls Club (Los Angeles), of which he was a founder, the United Way of Chicago, Chicago Youth Centers, and the Evans Scholarship Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker was enormously proud of his family and enjoyed family gatherings and celebrations; he was a longtime member of Beverly Country Club in Chicago, where he spent many happy days on the golf course with his good friends; in retirement, he made many good friends in Spanish classes at the Instituto Cervantes and in the Hyde Park neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker enjoyed blues and classic jazz music, the occasional good cigar and glass of Scotch whiskey, and holiday gatherings with his family and neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker is survived by his wife, Helen Norris Baker; his children, Scott Carrington Baker, Stephen Christopher Baker, and Stefanie Celeste Baker Rome (Kevin); his stepson, Dustin J. Burke (Rebecca); his stepdaughter, Colleen K. Walston (John); his brother, William A. Baker (Pearl); his grandchildren, Kevin D. Rome, III, Kendel Alyse Carrington Rome, Burke S. Walston, Elliot A. Walston, and Henry J. Burke; his niece, Arlyce Baker Chandler (Robert); his nephew, William Baker, Jr.; his great niece, Alexa Brianne Chandler; and his former wife, Addie Scott Baker; and

WHEREAS, Roland Baker's friends and family will fondly remember a kind-hearted, gentle, patient, refined, and intelligent man of many talents that include acting, golf, politics, and business and remember that his great works live on; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Roland Charles Baker and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all those whose lives were impacted by him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Roland Baker as an expression of our deepest sympathy.