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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Joan
4 Linton Ritter of Springfield, who passed away April 9, 2002;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Joan Ritter was born April 15, 1915, and was a
7 life-long resident of Springfield; in 1934, after graduating
8 from Brown's Business College in Springfield, she began her
9 nearly 60-year career in Illinois government working for the
10 steno pool in the House of Representative Clerk's Office;
11 after leaving that position in 1939, she worked for many
12 different institutions and offices within the State, some of
13 which no longer exist or have been renamed; in 1971, Joan
14 Ritter became the legislative secretary to Representative
15 John A. Matijevich and this legislative partnership lasted
16 until after the redistricting in 1992; she continued working
17 until 1994 in the House transcribing office; and
18 WHEREAS, Joan Ritter was a true blue Democrat, a
19 Roosevelt Democrat, and loved politics, the personalities,
20 and the rascals; after her retirement, she continued her
21 interest in government with an expertise garnered from
22 watching CNN, C-Span, and other news channels; and
23 WHEREAS, Joan Ritter loved her family above all else; she
24 raised two families, her own daughters, and when family
25 circumstances required, she made a permanent home for her two
26 grandchildren; in her mid 70s, she dealt with two spirited
27 teenagers; and
28 WHEREAS, Besides her career and family, Joan Ritter loved
29 her roses, and the Chicago Bulls; she was a supporter of
30 old-fashioned traditions like fresh Christmas trees, standing
31 at the door and waving to company as they left, and
32 extravagant Sunday family dinners; she had nearly 150 rose
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1 bushes in her garden, and lovingly cared for them in a way
2 only a good mother could; and
3 WHEREAS, Joan Ritter supported her Chicago Bulls
4 throughout the 1990s and was a huge Michael Jordan fan; when
5 he made his return to the National Basketball Association,
6 Joan Ritter became a Washington Wizards fan; and
7 WHEREAS, From the moment Joan Ritter saw Elton John in a
8 baby blue tuxedo that matched her outfit at a concert her
9 daughter, Linda, took her to in Springfield at the age of 84,
10 she became an Elton John fan; and
11 WHEREAS, Joan Ritter's Yorkshire Terrier, Spike, was her
12 constant companion at home; she was very pleased when he was
13 able to visit her in her last few days at the Hospice; and
14 WHEREAS, Joan Ritter will be deeply missed by all those
15 who knew her and loved her, especially her daughter, Linda
16 Taylor-Piccioli; her two grandchildren, Misti McCoy Gage and
17 Nick McCoy; and her great granddaughter, Alexis Nichole Gage;
18 she was preceded in death by her daughter, Marilyn McCoy;
19 therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22 we mourn, along with all those who knew her and loved her,
23 the passing of Joan Linton Ritter; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
25 presented to the family of Joan Linton Ritter with our most
26 sincere condolences.