SR0176 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0176 LRB096 12114 KXB 24241 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Stephen J. Laing of Woodstock, who passed away on February 1, 2009; and

WHEREAS, He was born June 3, 1939, in Chicago, to James E. and Lorraine E. nee McCabe Laing; he married Sharon "Shari" Gould on May 5, 1962, in Woodstock; and

WHEREAS, After his education, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served from 1957 to 1960; after his tour of duty, he started a lifelong journey as a firefighter; he got his start in fire service in Wonder Lake on the Highland Shores Rescue Squad in 1960 and continued with that department until 1980, retiring as assistant chief; in 1972, he began his full-time career on the Skokie Fire Department and retired from there in 1996 as a lieutenant; in 1980, after moving to Woodstock, he joined the Woodstock Fire & Rescue Department and retired as captain in 1991; he began his career with the McHenry Township Fire Protection District in 1987, leading the fire prevention bureau and moving up to the rank of assistant chief when he retired in 2006; the past few years he had been working as a consultant in the fire prevention bureau for Woodstock; and

WHEREAS, He was an avid NASCAR fan, especially of Dale Earnhardt Sr., and he loved the Bears; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine; and his father-in-law, Lloyd Gould; and

WHEREAS, He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor to many; he is survived by his wife of 47 years, Shari; his father, James E. Laing; his son, Steve R. (Beth) Laing; four grandchildren, Alex, Cassie, Megan, and Bridget Laing; his brothers, Michael (Sharon) Laing and Jim Laing; his sister, Victoria (Tom) Helin; his mother-in-law, Dorothy J. Gould; and his brothers-in-law, Dan (Cheri) Gould and Alan (Bernadette) Gould; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Stephen Laing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Stephen Laing as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.