SR0883 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0883 LRB099 13468 MST 37398 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Janice Sylvia Fienberg Rothbaum of Urbana, who passed away on July 21, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Janice Rothbaum was born in Bennington, Vermont on August 9, 1924 to Harry and Anna Fienberg; she graduated from Bennington High School in 1942 as valedictorian of the senior class; she received a degree in radio journalism from Syracuse University and pursued a career in radio at stations in Boston, Massachusetts and upstate New York; she married Melvin Rothbaum in 1948; and

WHEREAS, Janice Rothbaum and her family lived in Europe for a year and then in Los Angeles, California for 6 years, finally settling in Champaign-Urbana in 1962; when her children reached their teens, she went back to school and earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Illinois; she worked at the Adler Mental Health Center with emotionally disturbed and developmentally disabled children, eventually becoming Director of Social Work and Community Services for a 16-county area; she also worked for the Urbana public schools and in private practice; in 1982, she was voted Social Worker of the Year for her district; and

WHEREAS, Upon retirement, Janice Rothbaum and her husband embarked on a series of travel adventures around the world, exploring 5 continents; she also pursued a lifelong dream to be on the stage, performing in at least 40 roles at the Station Theatre, Parkland College, the Krannert Center, and various other venues; the conclusion to her acting career was the lead role in the play "4,000 Miles" at the Station Theatre; the closing performance coincided with her 90th birthday, which the sold-out theater then celebrated; she enjoyed good food and entertaining and was a gourmet cook; and

WHEREAS, Janice Rothbaum was preceded in death by her 2 brothers, George and Bernard; and

WHEREAS, Janice Rothbaum is survived by her husband of 67 years, Melvin; her 2 children, Susan and Jeremy; and her 2 grandchildren, Nicholas and Liberty; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Janice Sylvia Fienberg Rothbaum, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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