HR0512 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0512 LRB103 35020 ECR 64947 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Emma Marie Shafer of Springfield, who passed away on July 11, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was born to Mary C. "Cathy" Schwartz and John M. Shafer in Springfield on April 13, 1999; she graduated from Springfield High School; she earned an associate's degree in political science from Lincoln Land Community College and a bachelor's degree in urban studies from the New School in New York City; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was passionately involved in public office, serving as an intern in the office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Fellow in the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, and a committee clerk at the State of Illinois House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was currently working at The Wakery and had just been hired to work for M.H. Action, where she was looking forward to advocating for the rights of people who live in manufactured homes; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was a lifelong activist; as a teenager, she participated in several youth service projects with Westminster Presbyterian Church, including helping to repair homes for low-income families in Appalachia, later joining the Appalachian Service Project staff; more recently, she was committed to serving Springfield through educating the public about the harmful effects of the carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline, advocating for an energy resource plan for City, Water, Light, and Power (CWLP) and the remediation of the coal ash ponds surrounding CWLP, and developing a food co-op/community center to serve Springfield's east side; her long-term plans included hosting redlining tours to explain the history and impact of racially discriminatory city planning in Springfield; she especially enjoyed canvassing and hosted weekly soup night gatherings in her home, bringing together advocates she believed needed to know each other; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer served as the membership chair of the Sierra Club Sangamon Valley Group, an incoming board member for the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network, a former organizer with the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, and an active volunteer of countless other community groups; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer loved theater, having her breakout role in Dear Edwina, Jr. at the Springfield Theatre Center in 2010 before starring in The Diary of Anne Frank at Theatre in the Park in New Salem in 2014 and playing her dream role of Mother in Ragtime at Springfield High School in 2017; earlier this year, she played the role of Eva Geiringer in And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank at the University of Illinois at Springfield; she also worked in various behind-the-scenes roles across numerous theater productions, including in directing, lighting, and organizing; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was attracted to activist theater, believing it pushed people towards humanity, and loved traveling, making trips for both pleasure and service to California, New York, Europe, and South Africa; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was known for her big hugs, bright smile, thrifted clothes, beautifully written poetry and newspaper editorials, and her ability to make everyone she was with feel like the most important person in the world; she will be remembered for her funky, goofy, and larger than life spirit; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer was preceded in death by her grandparents, Frank "Beaver" Schwartz, Mary "Fran" Schwartz, and Robert Shafer; and

WHEREAS, Emma Shafer is survived by her parents; her sisters, Michelle B. "Shelley" (Zach) Brown and Kathryn L. "Katie" (Drew) deMarco; her grandmother, Patricia Shafer; her nieces and nephews, Carter deMarco, Leo deMarco, Henry deMarco, Ava Brown, and Emma Brown; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Emma Marie Shafer 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 Emma Shafer as an expression of our deepest sympathy.