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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Joseph Michael "Joe" Bergen of
4Brownsville, who passed away on November 24, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Bergen was born to Judge Frances and Florence
6Louise (Dunn) Bergen on November 26, 1961; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Joe Bergen joined the Communications and Research
8Staff upon the recommendation of Senator Vince Demuzio in 1984;
9until 2004, he was a member of the Democratic Caucus staff of
10the Illinois Senate and served under the leadership of Senate
11President Phil Rock and later Democratic Leader and President
12of the Senate, Emil Jones Jr.; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In his 20 years of service in the Senate, Joe
14Bergen mentored hundreds of young staffers who came to learn
15that his lessons on life and work were true and honest
16instructions on how to succeed in the high-pressure world of
17state government administration, as well as life in general;
18while he worked for the Senate Democratic Caucus, he was never
19too busy to take time out of his day to help anyone in the
20Capitol who was in need; he reminded all of those with whom he
21associated that no one, regardless of their position in life,
22was beyond the courtesy of being recognized and greeted in the

 

 

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1hallways of the Capitol or the streets of the city and asked
2how they were doing that day; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Joe Bergen was the ultimate helper; he would
4happily run an errand, offer a piece of furniture from his
5vintage collection, or just pass on a kind word and smile; and
 
6    WHEREAS, When not at the Capitol, Joe Bergen was an amazing
7carpenter and electrician; he built decks and tree houses that
8housed his collections and light displays that, at times, lit
9up his entire neighborhood; he enjoyed welcoming friends and
10showing them his latest creations; he was a great lover of
11music and had hundreds of albums and cassettes in his
12collection, any of which he would give away to the first person
13who asked about one of them; and
 
14    WHEREAS, During his time at the Capitol, Joe Bergen became
15a fixture, one of those rare individuals whose impact and
16influence will be remembered not just by those with whom he
17worked but also by those who will hear of his life and lessons
18for years to come; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Joe Bergen was preceded in death by his beloved
20dog, Nick; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Joe Bergen is survived by his siblings, Mary

 

 

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1(Randy) Stoddard, Edward (Kathleen) Bergen, Thomas (Sue)
2Bergen, and James Bergen; and his many nieces, nephews,
3great-nieces, and great-nephews; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6Joseph Michael "Joe" Bergen and extend our sincere condolences
7to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
8it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Joe Bergen as an expression of our
11deepest sympathy.