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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the passing of a
4respected former State employee, Francis N. "Frank" Kopel, on
5November 30, 2014; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel was born on May 28, 1949 in Moline;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel graduated from United Township High
9School in 1967; he subsequently studied Political Science at
10Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he earned his
11Bachelor of Arts degree in Government in 1971 and Master of
12Arts degree in Political Science with a concentration in
13International Law in 1976; he later continued his formal
14education at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri,
15earning a Master of Arts degree in Urban Politics in 1978 and
16completing Ph.D. coursework related to municipal finance; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel began his public service as a
18caseworker with the Cook County Department of Public Aid in
19Chicago in 1972; in 1979, he began working as a research
20analyst for the United States House of Representatives'
21Committee on House Administration in Washington, D.C.; later
22that year, he began his long career with the Illinois

 

 

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1Department of Public Aid (now the Illinois Department of
2Healthcare and Family Services) as an Assistant Manager of the
3Bureau of Planning and Evaluation; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Over the years, Francis Kopel took on added
5responsibility in the Department of Public Aid's Divisions of
6Medical Programs and Finance; he was selected to be Deputy
7Administrator of Medical Programs in 2009 and Administrator of
8the Division of Finance in 2011; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel's tenure at the Department spanned
10the administrations of several Governors, including Daniel
11Walker, James Thompson, Jim Edgar, George Ryan, Rod
12Blagojevich, and Pat Quinn, as well as many agency Directors,
13including Jeffrey C. Miller, Carl Mankowicz, Gregory Coler,
14Michael Taylor, Edward Duffy, Kathleen Briedert-Kustra, Susan
15Suter, Phillip Bradley, Robert W. Wright, Linda Renee Baker,
16Joan Walters, Theron Aslaksen, Ann Patla, Jackie Garner, A.
17George Hovanec, Barry S. Maram, and Julie Hamos; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel assisted in the development and
19implementation of major welfare reform initiatives, including
20the landmark 2012 Save Medicaid Access and Resources Together
21Act and nursing home and hospital reimbursement methodologies
22that were critical to Illinois being able to provide services
23efficiently and effectively to millions of children, adults,

 

 

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1seniors, and persons with disabilities; he also aided in the
2development of provider assessment programs that have brought
3additional billions of dollars and additional resources for the
4State's Medicaid Program; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel was a Bureau Chief responsible for
6reimbursement and analysis for many years; he taught and
7mentored many employees in federal financing, local government
8Medicaid financing, intergovernmental agreements, rate
9methodologies, and other intricacies of the Medicaid program;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel will be remembered by his colleagues
12at the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services and
13within the administrations of many Governors as an intelligent,
14caring, skillful, and thoughtful analyst, administrator,
15supervisor, and friend whose input was always valued; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel's colleagues report that one of his
17greatest strengths was his ability to make sense of computer
18systems that were used for eligibility determination and
19benefits processing, to the extent that he could understand
20those systems and write the computer programs that made it
21possible for him to independently retrieve data from the
22systems quickly and provide top agency administrators more
23immediate access to data they needed for program and policy

 

 

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1planning; he could then pass on that knowledge and skill to
2other employees and colleagues; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel loved a challenge to think
4creatively and take on big problems, including a 1987 original
5proposal for comprehensive national welfare reform; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel's creativity, ability, and
7dedication to public service also contributed to his effective
8consultation and collaboration with others outside of the
9Department, including social and medical service organizations
10and the Illinois General Assembly; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Upon his retirement on December 31, 2012, Francis
12Kopel's record of public service and accomplishments were
13recognized by Governor Pat Quinn in a special Proclamation
14issued on December 13, 2012; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel was preceded in death by his father,
16Francis Kopel, and his father-in-law, Ralph Voigts; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel is survived by his wife, Carolyn
18Cochran-Kopel; his mother, Margaret (nee Adamson) Kopel; 3
19children, Kendra (William "BJ") Jahn, Kelly (Michael) Cohlman,
20and Jason (Laura) Cochran; 6 grandchildren, Jordy, Charles,
21Ruth, Matthew, Kyle, and Maxwell; 3 siblings, Edward (Martina)

 

 

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1Kopel, Karen (Dan) Bystrom, and Rick Kopel; his mother-in-law,
2Louise Voigts; his in-laws, Greg Voigts, Jeff (Karen) Voigts,
3Sherry (Brian) Friedman, and Lisa Leonard; 13 nieces and
4nephews, Christina (Seth) Kopel, Ryan (Debbie) Hageman, Aaron
5(Kristen) Kopel, Ben (Nicole) Kopel, Sara Samolitis, Zelig
6Kopel, Tiffany (Jerry) Sullivan, Brittany (Korey) Lyons,
7Trevor (Laura) Leonard, Ryan (Alicia) Voigts, Adam Voigts, and
8Lindsay and Alex Friedman; and his many great-nieces,
9great-nephews, friends, neighbors, and colleagues; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Francis Kopel will also be remembered as a devoted
11and kind husband who traveled the world with his beloved wife,
12as a caring father who could answer any question, a playful and
13loving grandfather, a wonderful son, brother, and friend, and
14the attentive caretaker of Squeaky the cat and countless
15backyard birds and squirrels; his presence will be felt when we
16see an Indiana Jones hat, smell fresh coffee, tend our gardens,
17hear a dry yet witty joke, or pass by Washington Park, where he
18and his wife were married 25 years ago; he will be deeply
19missed by all who were fortunate to have known and loved him;
20therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
23we, along with his family and friends, honor and mourn the
24passing of Francis N. "Frank" Kopel; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Frank Kopel as a symbol of our deep
3appreciation of his service to the State of Illinois and our
4sympathy for his passing.