SR0662 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0662 LRB101 13882 ALS 62745 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Thomas "Dick" Gainey of Coal Valley, who passed away on July 16, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Dick Gainey was born in Erie to Stacey and Harriet Gainey on February 26, 1926; he served in the United States Marines during World War II and participated in the Battle of Okinawa and the occupation of Japan; he married Agnes Van den Berghe in September 1951; the first in his family to go to college, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University in 1952; and

WHEREAS, Dick Gainey began his career at John Deere; in 1957, he moved to California to pursue a career in aerospace; he worked on the environmental control system for the Apollo command module, specifically the oxygen pressure regulator, water valve, and cryogenic tanks; later, he was the responsible engineering authority for a space-qualified, closed-loop cryogenic cooler to cool infrared sensors to ten degrees kelvin; he was instrumental in the development of the Maverick Missile, which is still in use today; and

WHEREAS, Dick Gainey was an active member of St. James Catholic Church in Redondo Beach for over 50 years; following his retirement, he and Agnes ran the church's program for the homeless for over 20 years; recently, they received the Shining Star Award for their service to the parish community; and

WHEREAS, Dick Gainey is survived by his wife of 68 years, Agnes; his children, James (Susan), Daniel, Steven (Debra), and Jeanine (Keith); his grandchildren, Kathryn, Kristopher, Kimberly, Kylene, Kurtis, Patrick, Timothy, Maren, Ryanne, Neil, and Angela; his six great-grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Newton; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Thomas "Dick" Gainey 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 Dick Gainey as an expression of our deepest sympathy.