Full Text of SR1209 103rd General Assembly
SR1209 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | SR1209 | | LRB103 42458 MST 75688 r |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION | 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | 3 | | to learn of the death of John Polka of River Forest, who passed | 4 | | away on January 27, 2024 at the age of 81; and | 5 | | WHEREAS, John Polka was born to George and Susan (Dillon) | 6 | | Polka in Chicago on July 23, 1942; and | 7 | | WHEREAS, John Polka attended Brother Rice High School and | 8 | | then attended St. Mary's University and Chicago State | 9 | | University, where he earned his master's degree; and | 10 | | WHEREAS, John Polka spent his career of over fifty years | 11 | | teaching biology at Fenwick High School and was the chair of | 12 | | the science department, where he developed the ecology of the | 13 | | rainforest and marine biology programs, as well as organized | 14 | | student science trips abroad; and | 15 | | WHEREAS, John Polka was recognized by the National | 16 | | Association of Biology Teachers for his efforts; and | 17 | | WHEREAS, John Polka also created Fenwick's cross-country | 18 | | team in 1966 and led six teams to Chicago Catholic League (CCL) | 19 | | titles over his 43 years of coaching; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, John Polka was inducted into the CCL Coaches Hall | 2 | | of Fame and the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches | 3 | | Association Hall of Fame; he served as an Illinois High School | 4 | | Association rules interpreter and official; and | 5 | | WHEREAS, John Polka served as a consultant to the AP | 6 | | Biology College Board and volunteered as a tour guide at the | 7 | | Shedd Aquarium after retiring from Fenwick; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, John Polka was extremely involved in faculty | 9 | | leadership; he strongly supported making Fenwick | 10 | | co-educational and was in a group of department chairs in | 11 | | favor of the switch; and | 12 | | WHEREAS, John Polka will be remembered as patient, caring, | 13 | | and passionate about mentoring students; he instilled a | 14 | | passion for the sciences in the more than five thousand | 15 | | students that he taught; and | 16 | | WHEREAS, John Polka was recognized by alumni and teachers | 17 | | as one of "Fenwick's Finest", a teacher that students | 18 | | remembered decades after graduating; and | 19 | | WHEREAS, John Polka is survived by his niece, Nancy | 20 | | Polka-Schneiter, and nephew, Richard (Sylwia) Polka; many | 21 | | extended family and friends; and the numerous Fenwick alumni |
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| 1 | | and staff he inspired through his teaching, coaching, and | 2 | | strong faculty leadership; therefore, be it | 3 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL | 4 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 5 | | John Polka and extend our sincere condolences to his family, | 6 | | friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further | 7 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 8 | | presented to the family of John Polka as an expression of our | 9 | | deepest sympathy. |
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