SR0154 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0154 LRB099 08469 MST 28625 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James A. Malay of Lake Bloomington, who passed away on January 24, 2015; and

WHEREAS, James Malay was born in Moline on November 26, 1937 to Paul Joseph and Mary (nee Gorman) Malay; he graduated from Dixon High School in 1955 and from St. Ambrose College in 1959, with a degree in political science; he served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1960 and for 4 years in the Army Reserve; he married Elaine Fitzgerald on August 20, 1960; and

WHEREAS, James Malay joined State Farm in 1960 and rose to the position of Vice-President Life Policyholder Services; in 1980, he transferred to Service and Systems and assumed the role of Vice-President Services for Auto, Fire, Life & Health; and

WHEREAS, James Malay was an active member of his community; he was a longtime CCHS Booster Club member and a 40-year YMCA member, including 5 years on its board as Financial Committee Chairman; he was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary's of Lexington and Bro-Men Hospital; he served for 6 years for the OSF-St. Joseph's Hospital Community Board, 3 years as President; he and his wife were Crystal Ball Honorees in 1985 for their outstanding contributions to OSF-St. Joseph's Hospital; and

WHEREAS, James Malay was a longtime member of the University Club of Chicago; he studied in the Illinois State University Master's Program and took part in the Great Books program; he was a member of the Lake Bloomington Monday Night Poker Club for 30 years; he was a loyal alum of St. Ambrose University and proud that his oldest daughter, Susan, graduated from there as well; he was on the St. Ambrose Executive Council for 10 years and National Chairman of its President's Club for 3 years; in 2001, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and, in 2008, he received the McMullen Award for his support and contributions; he was Secretary of the Lake Bloomington Long-Range Planning Committee and a charter member of the Thursday Night Run Club; he also co-founded the 10K Lake Run, which continues to be popular 30 years later; and

WHEREAS, James Malay passionately cared about Timber Pointe Camp, a summer camp at Lake Bloomington for Easter Seals campers; he served as President of the Timber Pointe Charitable Foundation for 15 years and also served as Commodore of the Timber Pointe Yacht Club; for 20 years, every Wednesday evening during the summer, he commandeered a dozen to 2 dozen captains and boats, picked up the campers and led them on a magical boat ride around the lake; he also oversaw significant capital improvements to the camp, including the Woods Arts Center and The Lodge, a beautiful facility overlooking the lake; under his stewardship, the camp went from accommodating 300 children every summer to over 1,500; for his work with the camp, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, James Malay began taking trips to Ireland to explore his roots and visit relatives; he obtained his Irish citizenship and passport and returned to Ireland 14 times; he also enjoyed traveling to numerous other places around the world with his family; and

WHEREAS, James Malay was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Rosemary Malay Robinson; and his brother, John Malay; and

WHEREAS, James Malay is survived by his wife, Elaine; his daughters, Susan McNary, Julie Friedmann, and Karen Compton and son, Jim Malay; his sons-in-law, Bill McNary, Ed Friedmann, and Spencer Compton; his daughter-in-law, Alicia Malay; and his grandchildren, Molly, Kathleen, Maggie, Ryan, Ellie, Nora, Meghan, Nell, Liam, and Sarah; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James A. Malay, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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