HR0312 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0312 LRB097 11709 KXB 54778 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Robert G. Kirchner of Urbana, who passed away on April 17, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Robert Kirchner was born on June 23, 1956, in Joliet; his parents were Robert and Margaret (Keyser) Kirchner; he grew up in New Lenox; and

WHEREAS, Robert Kirchner attended Western Illinois University, earning his Bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science in 1976 and his Master's degree in political science in 1977; while in college, he met his future wife, Gerri; they married August 25, 1979, in Park Ridge; he later attended the University of Illinois College of Law, and earned his law degree in 1982; and

WHEREAS, After earning his law degree, he joined the Champaign law practice of Burt Greaves and Art Lerner, which became Greaves, Lerner and Kirchner, and later, Lerner and Kirchner; in 2002, he opened his own law office in Champaign; he argued many cases before the appellate courts and the Illinois Supreme Court, winning several cases that established legal precedents; he was well known among his peers as a champion of numerous legal causes that other attorneys would not take; and

WHEREAS, He ran as a Democratic candidate for State Representative in 1996; despite losing the election, his campaign engaged public participation by hosting a series of monthly symposiums on key issues impacting State legislation, including education funding, crime, drug abuse, gun control, child welfare, women's rights, health care, employment laws, and campaign finance reform; and

WHEREAS, Robert Kirchner served on the Champaign County Board as the District 9 representative, appointed in 2001 and elected in 2002 to a 2-year term; as a member of the board, he voted to pass laws to guarantee a living wage for all full-time county employees, prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation, and establish free dental care for low-income children; he served as chair of the county nursing home sub-committee and worked on the successful passage of the referendum proposal to fund its construction; and

WHEREAS, Robert Kirchner served as Vice President of the Champaign County Bar Association from 1994 to 1995; in 1994, he helped establish Best Interest of Children, a local non-profit organization dedicated to child and family advocacy, and served on the organization's board; and

WHEREAS, He was an avid softball player, and enjoyed volleyball, bocce ball, bowling, ping pong, bridge, hearts, pinochle, poker, and other games; and

WHEREAS, Robert Kirchner is survived by his wife of 32 years, Gerri; his sisters, Marlene (Dennis) Gallagher and Lorrie (Robert) Chaplin; his brothers, John (Carol) Burkhart, Ron (Laura) Kirchner, and David Kirchner; his brother-in-law, Paul (Sue) Geissler; his sister-in-law, Shelly (Paul) Kotecki; his 4 nephews; and his 7 nieces; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Robert Kirchner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Robert Kirchner as an expression of our sympathy.