SR0106 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0106 LRB102 17008 MST 22430 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of J. William "Bill" Braithwaite of Barrington, who passed away on December 6, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite was born in Detroit, Michigan to James and Eunice Braithwaite on September 28, 1928; he grew up on a small poultry farm and was involved in 4-H; he served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948, beginning when he was just 17-years-old; during his service, he spent a year in the Philippines and attended the University of Santo Tomas, Manila; he served again in the Army National Guard from 1950 to 1952, during which time he was stationed in Virginia and Germany; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite attended the University of Connecticut, where 4-H continued to influence his life; he became president of the University 4-H Club, and in 1949, he met his future wife, Dyllis, who was the club's secretary; following his graduation from Columbia Law School, he was awarded a one-year teaching fellowship at Northwestern University Law School; he and Dyllis settled in Barrington in 1955; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite practiced law for 64 years and served as chair of the Chicago Bar Association Municipal Law Committee; he began his career as a land use attorney in 1959 by forming the Village of South Barrington; he subsequently served as an attorney for many of the local villages including Barrington, Volo, Campton Hills, and, for over 50 years, the Village of North Barrington; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite worked behind the scenes on fundraising projects, served on governing boards, and provided free legal counsel for a number of organizations; he earned community service awards, including Man of the Year and Board Director Emeritus from Family Service of the Barrington Area, the Barrington Area Development Council's Citizen of the Year, and countless others; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite was a longtime member and volunteer with the Barrington United Methodist Church and served on the board of its affiliate, the Marcy Newberry Foundation; he was chairman of the Sunday School, was active on the Missions Commission, and was instrumental in establishing the church's endowment fund; he played a significant role in the church's relocation after it had been destroyed by fire; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite was a member of the Barrington Chamber of Commerce and its Executive Breakfast Club, as well as the Barrington school board; he served on the boards of the Barrington Area Council on Aging and the Clearbrook Center Foundation and recently served as the pro bono attorney for Let It Be Us; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite had a generous heart and a brilliant mind; he will be especially remembered for his unquestionable integrity, strong work ethic, wisdom, generosity, compassion for others, and great sense of humor; he was humble and completely without pretense; he believed in social justice and inclusion; he loved being a lawyer, but family meant the most to him; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Bill Braithwaite is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dyllis; his children, Nancy, Gordon, and Ann (Randy); his grandchildren, Amarins, Tsjalling, Austin, Preston, and Christopher; and his great-granddaughter, Amelia; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of J. William "Bill" Braithwaite 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 Bill Braithwaite as an expression of our deepest sympathy.