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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3learned with deep sorrow and regret of the death of our friend
4and colleague, Illinois State Representative Esther Golar of
5Chicago, on September 21, 2015; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Representative Golar was born in Chicago on April
716, 1944; she was one of 9 children; a lifelong resident of
8Chicago's South Side, she grew up in the West Englewood
9neighborhood, graduated from Malcolm X College, and resided in
10Englewood; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Representative Golar made her mark as a dedicated
12public servant and community leader, building local
13organizations, advocating for greater public safety, and
14fighting for those who struggle; she was a coordinator for the
15Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy for more than 15 years,
16training residents to build friendlier and safer communities;
17she was a community service representative at Robert Fulton
18School and a resident board member of Neighborhood Housing
19Services of Chicago, Inc.; strong in faith, she attended and
20volunteered at Trinity United Church of Christ; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Representative Golar worked for the Chicago
22Police Department on Chicago's South and West Sides in the

 

 

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1Troubled Buildings Unit and as a Community Policing
2Coordinator; as a testament to her selflessness and loyalty,
3though she began her service with the police department on
4Chicago's South Side, after she was transferred to the West
5Side, she continued to help her coworkers on the South Side;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Representative Golar joined the Illinois House of
8Representatives in 2005; committed to constituent service,
9Representative Golar's constituents would often stop her at the
10grocery store, the pharmacy, and throughout the community
11asking for assistance; she did her best to help with everything
12from street sweeping and street lighting to enforcing child
13support payments; she regularly attended events in the
14community, such as the Englewood Back-to-School Parade and the
15Resident Association of Greater Englewood's "So Fresh
16Saturdays" series, visited and met with constituents, and
17worked to build bridges and strengthen relationships for the
18betterment of local neighborhoods; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Representative Golar's legislative
20responsibilities were a reflection of her priorities and her
21determination to improve the lives of not only her constituents
22but all Illinois residents; she fought for safer neighborhoods,
23stronger schools, and additional educational resources for
24children, equal access to health care and economic development

 

 

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1for seniors and persons with disabilities, better wages, and a
2better standard of living for the middle class and struggling
3families; one of the first laws she passed was aimed at
4increasing State payments to vendors of homemaker, chore, and
5housekeeping services for the purpose of increasing employees'
6wages and providing health insurance; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Throughout her nearly 10 years in the House of
8Representatives, Representative Golar served as House
9Chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus, Chair of the
10Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curriculum and
11Policies Committee, Chair of the Public Policy and
12Accountability for Education Committee, and Chair and
13Vice-Chair of the Housing and Disability Services Committees;
14her committee membership included service on the Elementary and
15Secondary Education, Child Support Enforcement, Health Care
16Availability and Accessibility, Human Services Appropriations,
17Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations, and
18Judiciary-Criminal Law Committees; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Representative Golar's legislative achievements
20include the Senator Penny Severns Memorial Award for her
21advocacy for persons with disabilities, the Back of the Yards
22Neighborhood Leadership Award, and the Safer Foundation's
23CARRE Visionary Award for her outstanding contributions to
24eliminate barriers to employment for people with criminal

 

 

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1records; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Representative Golar was adored and respected by
3her friends and colleagues and will be remembered for her
4resolve, commitment to public service, devotion to faith,
5kindness, and sense of humor and for bringing levity to
6sometimes tense moments with her gift of song; her quiet nature
7and friendly demeanor were a reflection of her warm
8personality, but she never hesitated to rise and fight for the
9disadvantaged, the most vulnerable, and those who struggle; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Esther Golar was a loving sister, the proud mother
11of Tiffany Golar, and the devoted grandmother of Briana Golar,
12Toni Common, Ananea Common, and Jayden Golar; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The death of Representative Esther Golar is deeply
14felt by her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her;
15her presence at the State Capitol will be greatly missed;
16therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with her
19family and friends, mourn the passing of Illinois State
20Representative Esther Golar; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1presented to the family of Esther Golar as an expression of our
2deepest sympathies and respect.