SR0637 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0637 LRB093 22768 HSS 52560 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Clarence J. Ruddy of Aurora on Monday, June 21, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy was born in Batavia on June 20, 1905; he moved to Aurora, with his parents, Master Plumber Clarence S. Ruddy and Mae Behan Ruddy of Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, in 1910; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Grade School and was a 1922 graduate of East Aurora High School; he received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame, where he founded and became the first Editor-in-Chief of the Notre Dame Lawyer, now known as the Notre Dame Law Review; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy began his legal career in Aurora in 1927, and was for many years a partner in the Law Firm of Alschuler, Putnam, Johnson, and Ruddy, before opening his own firm, and establishing a partnership with Charles J. Myler, in 1961; since his retirement from the full time practice of law in 1985, he remained "Of Counsel" to the firm in Aurora, now known as Myler, Ruddy & McTavish; and

WHEREAS, An active member of the Democratic Party since beginning his legal career, Mr. Ruddy carried Aurora in his first political race, when he ran as the Democrat candidate for State's Attorney of Kane County in 1932; although unable to carry the north end of the county in the election, he remained committed to the principles of his party and during his lifetime served as a delegate to several Democratic National Conventions; in 1937, he was appointed to be a member of the Electoral College and traveled to the White House, where he met with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, following his inauguration to his second term in office; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy served as an Illinois Assistant Attorney General from 1933 to 1941 and as a Special Assistant Attorney General from 1961 to 1969; he was a former Chairman of the Kane County Democrats and remained an active and proud member of the national and local Democratic parties throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy was licensed to practice law in all local, State, and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court; in addition to his active roles in the local legal community, including his presidency of the Kane County Bar Association in 1944 and 1945, Mr. Ruddy held various memberships and offices in the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Judicature Society; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy was also very involved in the Aurora civic community and was one of the original founders of the Aurora Foundation; he was president of the Aurora War Fund in 1943 and 1944 and a long-time member of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president in 1949; he participated in numerous fundraising campaigns for Copley and Mercy Hospitals as well as Holy Angels Church and many other local charities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy was very active in the Loyal Order of Moose; in addition to being a 65-year member and four-term local Governor of Local Lodge 400, he was a Past Supreme Governor of the Order and was awarded the Pilgrim Degree of Merit, the Order's highest degree, in 1942; he served for many years on the Supreme Council of the Order and was the fraternity's General Counsel for the Supreme Lodge for over 20 years; he continued to serve as a member of Supreme Lodge Judiciary Committee until his death; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy was well-known throughout the community for his continuing dedication to his town, his church, his alma mater of Notre Dame, and his active participation in the Democratic Party and the Loyal Order of Moose; he belonged to numerous other clubs and organizations, including the Aurora Country Club, the Elks and Sierra Clubs, and he was one of the founders of the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, serving as its first recording secretary; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ruddy strongly believed that it was an honor to be a member of the legal profession, and that this membership enabled him to work with and assist people of all walks of life; Mr. Ruddy's civility, friendliness, and enthusiasm for living were hallmarks of his career and earned him countless friends and clients throughout Kane County and the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In 1997, Mr. Ruddy was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Culkin Ruddy; his passing has been deeply felt by many, especially his children and their families, Attorney Philip C. Ruddy (wife, Colleen), and children, Philip, Jr. and Erin Sabey; Mary Margaret Zumoff, (husband, Attorney Robert Zumoff), and children, Jacob and Becca; Attorney Clarence John Ruddy, Jr. (wife, Lorna), and children, Alison, Erica and John Patrick; and his two great-grandchildren, Julia Colleen Sabey and Reed Andrew Sabey

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Clarence J. Ruddy, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Clarence J. Ruddy as an expression of our sincere condolences.