SR0560 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0560 LRB097 19970 KXB 65267 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend J. Robert Sandman of Oak Brook, who passed away on January 16, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was a retired United Church of Christ minister; he grew up in Newport, Kentucky; after graduation from Oberlin College in Ohio, Union Theological Seminary in New York, and receiving a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, Reverend Sandman served as Migrant Ministry state director and pastor of a Columbus, Ohio church; and

WHEREAS, He later worked in United Church of Christ denominational administration, retiring in 1992 as Associate Conference Minister in the Illinois Conference; he dedicated his life to service and justice ministries such as civil rights, anti-Vietnam War marches, new church ministries for immigrant minority communities, and farmworker labor rights; and

WHEREAS, He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in civil rights demonstrations and befriended Cesar Chavez; he worked with the Migrant Ministry and the National Farm Worker Ministry; and

WHEREAS, After retiring he and his wife spent a year of volunteer work in Istanbul, Turkey, among Iraqi, Iranian, and Bosnian refugees, plus hundreds of African economic migrants; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his son, Richard A. Sandman; and his grandson, Nicholas Sandman; and

WHEREAS, Reverend J. Robert Sandman is survived by his wife, Olgha Sierra Sandman; his sons, Robert D. Sandman (Kathy) and Rodney P. Sandman (Karin); his daughter, Linda E. Sandman (Richard Wheelock); his 8 grandchildren; and his 2 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Reverend J. Robert Sandman; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend J. Robert Sandman as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.