SR1215 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1215 LRB099 15126 MST 39347 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Michael Kotzin of Highland Park, who passed away on October 18, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Michael Kotzin was born in Chicago; he graduated from Sullivan High School and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and his doctorate from the University of Minnesota; he served in the Israeli army after being drafted for the 1973 Yom Kippur War; and

WHEREAS, Michael Kotzin joined the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Atlanta, Georgia in 1979; 2 years later, he became Regional Director in Columbus, Ohio, and then in 1983, he returned to Chicago to head the ADL office; he spent the last 25 years with the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, first as Executive Director of the organization's Jewish Community Relations Council and then as Executive Vice-President; later, he served as a special consultant to the President; his involvement in Jewish and Zionist organizations came after he spent 11 years teaching English literature at Tel Aviv University in Israel; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, the Jewish United Fund published a book by Michael Kotzin, "On the Front Lines in a Changing Jewish World", a collection of his essays, opinion columns, speeches, and reviews; and

WHEREAS, Michael Kotzin is survived by his wife, Judith; his daughter, Abigail Kotzin; his sons, Daniel and Joshua; his sister, Morissa Amitai; and his 8 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Michael Kotzin, 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 Michael Kotzin as an expression of our deepest sympathy.