SR0343 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0343 LRB098 12306 MST 46570 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William Joseph Durka, who passed away on May 12, 2013; and

WHEREAS, William Durka was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Anthony and Mary Durka; he was raised in Waukegan and attended Waukegan Township High School, graduating in 1939 as the valedictorian of his class; he went to the University of Chicago, earning his bachelors of arts in 1943 and his juris doctor in 1944; he was an honor scholar and student marshal at the University of Chicago, debate coach, editor of the law review, elected to the Order of the Coif, and first in his class; he served 2 years as research assistant to the university president Robert M. Hutchins; he joined the U.S. Navy to give talks in the Chicago area on how the home front could aid the war effort during World War II; he married Margaret Reichardt in 1950; she passed away in 1978 and he married Nancy Weaver in 1981; and

WHEREAS, William Durka began his law career in 1944 with James Lawrence Fly, who had started a New York firm specializing in communications law; he became a full partner in 5 years; in 1956, he joined the General Electric Company, retiring as the manager of G.E.'s International Trade Policy Operation; and

WHEREAS, A highlight of William Durka's life was a 2-hour meeting in June 1947 with Albert Einstein at his Princeton home; and

WHEREAS, William Durka was an avid reader and enjoyed books, libraries, and discussing theories and ideas with others; and

WHEREAS, William Durka is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Peggy; his stepdaughter, Phoebe Trachtenberg and her husband, Gordon, and their 2 children, and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William Durka, and extend our sincere condolences 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 William Durka as an expression of our deepest sympathy.