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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of  Michael J. Birck; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Michael Birck attended Purdue University, where 
5he played  varsity baseball and graduated with a bachelor's 
6degree in electrical engineering in 1960; and

  
 
7    WHEREAS, Michael Birck served as CEO of Tellabs, Inc., 
8which he co-founded with 5 others during a brainstorming 
9session at his kitchen table in 1975; the company began making 
10echo suppressors designed to improve telephone reception, 
11which led to the company developing an echo canceller in 1981; 
12by 2001, the company made $3 billion in sales and had 8,900 
13employees; he retired from his role as CEO of the company in 
142004 and retired as chairman in 2013; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Michael Birck was a member of Purdue University's 
16Board of Trustees for 14 years until he stepped down from the 
17position in 2013; his philanthropic efforts included gifts of 
18more than $30 million to the University's nanotechnology center 
19and its golf complex; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Michael Birck was a family man who enjoyed playing 
21golf and watching baseball games, both the Chicago Cubs and 
 
 
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1those of his grandchildren; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Michael Birck was the beloved husband of Katherine 
3Birck (nee Royer); the loving father of Kevin (Laura) Birck, 
4Joni (Charles) Stevenson, and Christopher (Christine) Birck; 
5the cherished grandfather of Ian Stevenson, Colleen Stevenson, 
6Morgan Birck, Mackenzie Birck, Hannah Stevenson, Christopher 
7"CJ" Birck, and Keely Stevenson; the dear brother of Barbara 
8(Louis) Roehm, Patrick (Nancy) Birck, Jon (Karen) Birck, and 
9Vickie (Ed) McDevitt; the brother-in-law of Betty Shepherd and 
10Joan Smith; and the cherished uncle and good friend of many; 
11therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his 
14family and friends, mourn the passing of Michael J. Birck; and 
15be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Michael Birck as an expression of 
18our sympathy.