SR0308 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0308 LRB097 13161 GRL 57667 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Mary Kay O'Rourke; and

WHEREAS, Mary Kay O'Rourke was born in 1967; she was the fourth of eight children growing up on the Northwest Side of Chicago; after attending St. Ferdinand's Elementary School and Mother Guerin High School, she earned her bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University and her master's degree in education from Concordia University; and

WHEREAS, Mary Kay O'Rourke began her career at St. Angela's School in Austin as a teacher in 1996; she steadily ascended the ranks at St. Angela's, serving as assistant principal until she was selected to serve as principal; as principal, she led a leadership team that rejuvenated St. Angela's from the verge of closing with a mere 150 students to a class of more than 430 in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Mary Kay O'Rourke was named an "Outstanding Educator" by United States Representative Danny Davis in July of 2011 in honor of her great community leadership; and

WHEREAS, Mary Kay O'Rourke is survived by her mother, Mary Ann; her brothers and sisters, Jack, Kevin, Dan, Michael, and Patty Collins, and Dennis and Geralyn Lawler; and her 17 nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Mary Kay O'Rourke; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Mary Kay O'Rourke as an expression of our sympathy.