SR2106 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2106 LRB100 23924 MST 42997 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Philip R. O'Connor Ph.D. of Chicago, who passed away on September 26, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor was born to Philip J. and Irene (Peters) O'Connor in Vallejo, California on September 16, 1948; he graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University of Chicago and received his master's and doctorate in political science from Northwestern University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor had an extensive consulting career, most recently serving as the president of PROactive Strategies; he was a nationally-recognized expert on the development and implementation of competitive strategies in the insurance and utilities industries; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor served on numerous boards and charities; he served as a member of the board of the Big Shoulders Foundation for the schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Haymarket Center, Misericordia, and was the founding member of the alumni board of the Loyola University John Felice Rome Center; he served as an independent director of Delphi Financial Group Inc. and the Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor had extensive government and political experience; he was appointed to various boards and commissions by five governors over four decades; he was director of the Illinois Department of Insurance from 1979 to 1982, chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from 1983 to 1985, and a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections from 1998 to 2004; he served as an advisor to countless governors and politicians, most notably running the successful campaigns for governor of Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor volunteered to serve at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2007 to 2008, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. State Department as an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor is survived by his wife, Lynn Carlson; his stepchildren, Jeffrey, Greg, and Melissa (Ian) Carlson (Riddle); his grandchildren, Olivia and Isabella; his sisters, Kathy and Marilyn O'Connor; his niece and nephew, Emily (Alex) Watson and Ryan (Martine) Gordon; and his great-niece, Sona; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Philip R. O'Connor Ph.D. 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 Dr. O'Connor as an expression of our deepest sympathy.