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91_SR0379
LRB9114666KBkb
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Ralph Blackman of Aurora, Illinois;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, Ralph Blackman was born in Kansas on August 31,
6 1908; he was a graduate of East Aurora High School, Park
7 University in Parkville, Missouri, and Northwestern
8 University; and
9 WHEREAS, Ralph Blackman taught English in East Aurora
10 School District #131 for many years, and served as Principal
11 at Brady School from 1937 to 1943; after he ended his career
12 in teaching he worked as a travel agent and a book editor;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Ralph Blackman served in the United States Navy
15 in World War II, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant
16 Commander; he was an active part of the Westminster
17 Presbyterian Church, where he served on two Pastor Search
18 Committees; he was also a member of the Aurora Rotary Club
19 and The Aurora Foundation; he volunteered with Wayside Cross
20 Ministries and Aurora University; and
21 WHEREAS, Ralph Blackman served on the Aurora Public
22 Library Board for seventeen years, spending ten years as
23 President; during that time he started book deliveries to
24 nursing homes and schools, headed the program to convert from
25 the card catalog to the computer system, and started a
26 library partnership with Aurora and Fox Valley Park District;
27 in honor of his hard work the Eola Branch Library was
28 dedicated to him when it opened in 1993; and
29 WHEREAS, Ralph Blackman traveled to all seven continents,
30 and to celebrate his 85th birthday he took a hot-air balloon
31 ride with his wife, Dorothy; and
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1 WHEREAS, The passing of Ralph Blackman will be felt by
2 all that knew him, especially his wife, Dorothy; his
3 caregiver, Andy Ivakhnenko; his brother, Kenneth; his nieces
4 and nephews; his cousin, Hazel Reingardt; and his many
5 students from his teaching days; therefore, be it
6 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
7 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
8 all that knew him, the passing of Ralph Blackman of Aurora,
9 Illinois; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to Dorothy Blackman.