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92_SR0476
LRB9217502BHbhA
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Robert M. Healey of Chicago, who
4 passed away July 22, 2002; and
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Healey was born December 29, 1929, the son
6 of Wilfred L. and Mary Jean McGregor Healey; his childhood
7 during the tough Depression years stirred his interest in
8 labor issues; he joined the U.S. Army at the age of 16 and
9 served with the military police in Korea for two years after
10 World War II; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Healey was a great advocate for working men
12 and women throughout his career; he never ceased to defend
13 workers' rights to unionize, even among hospital workers who
14 conducted his medical tests two weeks before his death; he
15 was credited with dramatically raising teachers' salaries and
16 benefits and reducing class size during a period when
17 teaching in the Chicago Public Schools was difficult due to
18 scarce raises, very limited healthcare, and no paid
19 vacations; and
20 WHEREAS, Mr. Healey was appointed director of the
21 Illinois Department of Labor in 1999 by Governor George Ryan
22 and reappointed in 2001; he had been a member of the Illinois
23 State Labor Relations Board since 1994 and president of the
24 Chicago Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council from
25 1987 to 1994; Mr. Healey was an officer of the Chicago
26 Teachers Union, serving as president from 1972 to 1984, and
27 the Illinois Federation of Teachers, serving as president
28 from 1971 to 1989; and
29 WHEREAS, Mr. Healey had been an English teacher and
30 department chairman at Chicago's Gage Park High School; from
31 1991 to 1997, he served as director, deputy chairman, and
32 chairman on the board of directors of the Federal Reserve
-2- LRB9217502BHbhA
1 Bank of Chicago; he was also on many civic and charitable
2 organization boards; and
3 WHEREAS, Mr. Healey will be deeply missed by all those
4 who knew him and loved him, especially his wife, Catheleen;
5 his four daughters, Kathleen (Ross) Adams, Amy, Meg, and
6 Elizabeth Healey; his three sons, Michael (Lisa) Todd, Steven
7 (Julie) and Phillip Healey; his eight grandchildren, Robert
8 and Pearce Healey, Sean, Ryan, Tara, and Cade Todd, and
9 Ramsey, Al, Abed, and Emily Thompson; his two sisters,
10 Marguerite (Milton) Oran and Delores (Raymond) Biggins; and
11 his several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
12 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
13 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
14 his family and friends, the death of Robert M. Healey; and be
15 it further
16 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of Robert M. Healey with our sincere
18 condolences.