HR0648LRB102 25172 LAW 34435 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Gary G.
4Matts, who passed away on October 11, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Gary Matts was born on September 16, 1951; he
6began playing the drums and attending drum lessons by the age
7of six; he attended Lane Tech High School in Chicago, where he
8participated in the school orchestra and concert band; he
9attended the University of Illinois Chicago, where he studied
10Chemistry in his first year before realizing his preference
11towards studying music; he then switched to the Chicago
12Musical College of Roosevelt University, where he followed his
13true passion of playing percussion and graduated in 1974; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Gary Matts experienced a wonderful decades-long
15journey through a career in music, which led him to many
16genres, theaters, venues, and cities; he was known by his
17musician friends for his sense of humor and his parts in TV
18commercials and Broadway musicals; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Gary Matts shifted his focus from performing to
20labor leadership when he was elected president of the Chicago
21Federation of Musicians in 2004, of which he had been a member
22since 1969; prior to his presidency, he served on the Board of

 

 

HR0648- 2 -LRB102 25172 LAW 34435 r

1Directors and as assistant to the previous president; his work
2as president encompassed negotiating several multimillion
3dollar contracts for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric
4Opera, and various other musical organizations; he was also a
5board member of the American Federation of Musicians and
6Employers' Pension Fund; he retired from union leadership in
72016; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Gary Matts' greatest love was his family; he and
9his wife, Kathy, had three children, Janine, Kevin, and Karen,
10who all followed musical pursuits well into their teenage
11years; he was always proud to share the accomplishments of his
12children on their different paths; he loved spending time with
13his cherished grandsons, who adored their grandfather; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Gary Matts was the husband of Kathy (Scheckel)
15for almost 45 years; he was the father of Janine (Alex) Silva,
16Kevin (Brigid) Matts, and Karen Matts; he was the grandfather
17of Joaquin, Stephen, and Vincent; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20we mourn the passing of Gary G. Matts and extend our sincere
21condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
22him; and be it further
 

 

 

HR0648- 3 -LRB102 25172 LAW 34435 r

1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Gary Matts and to the Chicago
3Federation of Musicians, American Federation of Musicians
4Local 10-208 President Terryl Jares, as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.