SR1231 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1231 LRB098 21520 MST 60087 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James A. McDermott, Sr. "Jim" of Bunker Hill, who passed away on May 16, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott was born in Portland, Maine on April 21, 1951 to Dr. Leo James McDermott and Jane Bernice (nee Haley); he attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Cheverus High School and St. Louis University; he married Rosalind Anne Daly on May 11, 1974; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott spent most of his life teaching special needs children and retired as the Special Education Department Head, Work Experience Coordinator, and Emergency Operations Coordinator at Nottingham Community Access Job Training High School in May of 2014; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott served in many capacities with the American Heart Association, beginning in St. Louis where he served as a Program Associate for Emergency Cardiac Care and Fitness Programs between 1980 and 1985; he volunteered with local fire departments and emergency agencies as a paramedic, basic life support instructor, EMT instructor, and CERT instructor over the period of more than 30 years; in 1985, his family moved to the Birmingham, Alabama area and he became the Affiliate Program and later Management Director for the American Heart Association, Alabama Affiliate; he was very involved in multi-agency programs and was the co-founder of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott was a recipient of numerous awards from the State of Alabama for his work with health agencies and efforts to protect children's health; he was also very active with the Knights of Columbus and had served in several leadership positions at the local and state levels; he was recognized by the Alabama State Council as the 1994-1995 Knight of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott was an amateur radio enthusiast and member of the Lewis and Clark Radio Club; he was a Skywarn weather spotter and enjoyed his volunteer work in many local community service events; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Sharon (Guimont) McDermott; and brothers-in-law, Walter H. Daly and Robert F. Driscoll, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Jim McDermott is survived by his wife, Rosalind "Buzzy"; children, Erin and James, Jr. (Seamus); 4 grandchildren, Andrew, Carey, Emily, and Olivia McDermott; siblings, Leo J. McDermott, Jr., Frances T. Driscoll, Jane B. McDermott, Jr., and Susan E. Mortenson; brothers-in-law, Anthony C. Daly, S.J., Thomas M. Daly, Richmond Anderson, and Lee Mortenson; and 3 sisters-in-law, Sr. Thomas More Daly OSU, Angela Anderson, and Eileen Daly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James A. McDermott, Sr. "Jim", 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 Jim McDermott as an expression of our deepest sympathy.