Full Text of SR0502 102nd General Assembly
SR0502 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | 3 | | to learn of the death of Ann M. Laurence of Springfield, who | 4 | | passed away on August 17, 2021; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Ann Laurence was born in Freeport to Howard and | 6 | | Frances Laurence on March 24, 1948; she graduated from | 7 | | Freeport High School in 1966; she attended Highland Community | 8 | | College and the University of Illinois Circle Campus in | 9 | | Chicago; she married Ross Richardson in Lake City, Colorado in | 10 | | August 1973; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, Ann Laurence worked at a public relations firm in | 12 | | Chicago for a time before joining the fledgling Dan Walker for | 13 | | Governor campaign as volunteer coordinator in 1971; she ran | 14 | | for delegate to the Democratic Convention in Miami in 1972 and | 15 | | won an unexpected victory when the luck of the draw gave her a | 16 | | top ballot position in a crowded field; she was profiled along | 17 | | with others by Newsweek magazine as a representative of the | 18 | | cosmic demographic shift from 1968 for delegates to the | 19 | | Democratic National Convention; she attended the convention | 20 | | and proudly voted to nominate George McGovern for president; | 21 | | she moved to Springfield to join the Dan Walker administration | 22 | | in 1973, where she served as assistant to Director John | 23 | | Houlihan of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Alongside her husband, Ann Laurence opened The | 2 | | Feed Store on the Old Capitol Plaza in downtown Springfield in | 3 | | 1977; their restaurant quickly became a popular lunch spot and | 4 | | hosted locals and visitors for 43 years, including prominent | 5 | | politicians and celebrities; they decided to retire when the | 6 | | pandemic shut restaurants across Illinois, and they closed the | 7 | | restaurant in July 2020; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Ann Laurence spent her life fighting for equality | 9 | | and reproductive rights for women; while never elected to | 10 | | public office, she ran unsuccessfully for office twice, she | 11 | | actively participated in campaigns at all levels; she believed | 12 | | that everyone bears a responsibility to participate in civic | 13 | | life, and she acted accordingly; and
| 14 | | WHEREAS, Ann Laurence was the beloved wife, mother, | 15 | | friend, and mentor to many; she loved music, especially folk | 16 | | music, and never missed the Midnight Special radio program | 17 | | broadcast by WFMT; her two passions were food and politics, | 18 | | and she found fulfillment in both pursuits throughout her busy | 19 | | and productive life; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Ann Laurence was preceded in death by her parents | 21 | | and her brother, Howard Laurence; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Ann Laurence is survived by her husband of 48 | 2 | | years, Ross Richardson, and her son, Daniel (Haley Klitzing) | 3 | | Laurence-Richardson; therefore, be it
| 4 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL | 5 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 6 | | Ann M. Laurence and extend our sincere condolences to her | 7 | | family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it | 8 | | further
| 9 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 10 | | presented to the family of Ann Laurence as an expression of our | 11 | | deepest sympathy.
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