SR1040 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1040 LRB101 20820 LAW 70540 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Daniel M. "Dan" Pierce of Highland Park, who passed away on February 13, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce was born in Chicago on March 31, 1928; he graduated from New Trier High School; he earned degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Law School; he served in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps and attended the U.S. Air Force Command & Staff School during the Korean War; he married Rhoda Ann Kaplan; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce was with the law firm of Altheimer, Gray, Naiburg, Strasburger & Lawton for the remainder of his legal career; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1965 to 1985; during that time, he was the chairman of the House Environment Committee; he was very proud to be involved in the passage of a special education bill for school age children and also the Pollution Control Act in 1969, a year before the Federal Government took action; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce served as a three-term mayor of Highland Park from 1987 to 1995 and 1999 to 2003; his accomplishments in office included overseeing the completion of the Clavey Road clover leaf project, working on the Sister Cities Foundation, and preserving the former American Legion building on Sheridan Road, which is now home to The Art Center of Highland Park; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce was elected to the North Shore Water Reclamation District, formerly known as the North Shore Sanitary District, in 2004; he was currently serving as its president and had been in that position for over a decade; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce further served his community as a member of the American Legion Board, the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park Board of Trustees, and the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce was respected for his wit and intelligence; he was a mentor, friend, and colleague to all who came to know him; he leaves behind a legacy of community and public service accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce was preceded in death by his sister, Ellen (Gardner) Grant; and

WHEREAS, Dan Pierce is survived by his wife of almost 39 years, Rhoda Ann Pierce; his sons, Andrew (Margalynne), Anthony (Teresa), and Theodore (Anne); his stepsons, Eric (Blake) and Peter (Katie); his grandchildren, Rebecca, Catherine, Oliver, Martin, Ellen, Phoebe, and Roscoe; and his sister, Susan (Louis) Axelrod; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Daniel M. "Dan" Pierce 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 Dan Pierce as an expression of our deepest sympathy.