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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Gerald "Jerry" Flaherty, who passed
4away near his home in Winnetka on December 22, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Flaherty was born to Stanley and Theresa
6(Burgoni) Flaherty in Cherry on November 25, 1938; he
7graduated from Hall High School in Spring Valley in 1956; he
8married Lynn Taggart in 1958; he attended Northern Illinois
9University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business
10Administration in 1964 and another in Industrial Technology in
111967; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Jerry Flaherty enjoyed a successful, 42-year
13career at Caterpillar Inc. (Cat), progressing through the
14ranks because he was a strong leader, a natural teacher, and
15deeply committed to serving his people; he started as a
16production employee at the Aurora plant in 1959; he graduated
17from Cat's Manufacturing Training Program in 1961 and joined
18management in 1963; he was promoted and transferred to Cat's
19Decatur Plant as the Assembly Factory Manager in 1972; he then
20moved to General Offices as the Assistant Director of
21Manufacturing before being promoted as Plant Manager of Cat's
22Milwaukee, York, and Aurora Plants in succession; he was
23especially proud to return to his home Aurora Plant as the

 

 

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1Plant Manager; in 1987, he joined Cat's Executive Offices,
2first as Vice President of Employee Relations, then as
3Executive Vice President, and finally reaching Group President
4in 1990; as a Group President, he managed portfolios of global
5responsibilities; he was also the voice of Operations within
6the Executive Office; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Jerry Flaherty was involved in his local
8communities and donated his time in service to the Junior
9Achievement, Crispus Attucks, the City of Peoria Fire and
10Police Commission, the Peoria Area Economic Development
11Council, the Community Advisory Board of St. Francis Medical
12Center, the Bradley University Board of Trustees, and the
13Peoria Chapter of the Salvation Army; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Jerry Flaherty was an avid sportsman who played
15football, basketball, and track in high school and enjoyed
16boating, skiing, and golfing later in life; he also loved
17traveling the world with his wife and their friends; long
18after his retirement, he maintained his interest in the
19business world and current events; more than anything, he was
20a devoted family man who happily passed along the tradition of
21family Euchre playing; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Jerry Flaherty is survived by his sisters, Sharon
23(Barry) Ellis and Shirley (George) Adrian; his wife; his three

 

 

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1sons, Michael (Linda), Jerry Jr., and Tim (Voni); his five
2grandsons, Ryan, Daniel, Connor, John, and Sean; and his three
3great-grandchildren, Owen, Maeve, and Wayne "Bud"; therefore,
4be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Gerald "Jerry" Flaherty and extend our sincere condolences to
8his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Jerry Flaherty as an expression of
12our deepest sympathy.