HR1385 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1385 LRB099 22903 MST 50341 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor the life and legacy of Rolando Juan Correa; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa was born in Manati, Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago at age eight; overcoming the grim obstacles of urban disparity, he was awarded an ASPIRA scholarship to pursue higher education in Puerto Rico; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa proudly served in Vietnam with the United States Army as a door gunner, protecting medical helicopters as they evacuated wounded soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa managed one of the first registration campaign drives of Latino voters in Chicago; in the summer of 1980, during his tenure with the Puerto Rican Parade Committee, he followed the call to celebrate Puerto Rican arts and culture by bringing Las Fiestas Patronales to Humboldt Park; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa worked for the County of Cook, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa, after more than 43 combined years as a co-founder, staff member, and board member, was appointed Executive Director in 2005 and President and CEO in 2013 of Rincon Family Services; under his leadership, the organizational budget, staff, and community presence through acquisition of new facilities more than doubled in the last three years; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa and his wife of 44 years, Graciela, have two children, Rolando Jr. and Cristina, and five grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Rolando Correa will be remembered fondly for his dedication to creating an environment of respect and compassion for all he encountered, his commitment to the city's most vulnerable populations, and his role as a devoted guardian of the communities he loved; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the life and legacy of Rolando Juan Correa and pay tribute to his work in the City of Chicago and beyond; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rolando Juan Correa as a symbol of our esteem and respect.