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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Patrick William O'Brien was a gregarious 
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Irish-American who made people laugh by telling stories and 
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finding the humor in everyday life; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. O'Brien, a lifelong Evanston resident, passed 
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away on August 11, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. O'Brien grew up the middle of three brothers; 
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he attended St. Athanasius School and Evanston Township High 
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School; in 1947, he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical 
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engineering from Northwestern University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, While Mr. O'Brien contemplated a career in 
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academia, a college professor encouraged him to consider law; 
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by 1950, he had a law degree from Northwestern University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1954, he was at a party when he noticed a 
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stunning blond named Deborah Bissell; Mr. O'Brien was working 
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up the courage to speak to her when he lit his pipe and the 
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match flew, lighting Bissell's sundress on fire; he apologized 
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and offered to take her to dinner; they married in 1955 and had 
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seven children; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After briefly working at a private law firm, Mr. 
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O'Brien joined the Air Force during the Korean War, worked in 
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the judge advocate general's department, and became a captain; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1953, he joined Mayer, Meyer, Austrian & Platt; 
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as a trial lawyer for more than 50 years with the Chicago law 
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firm, Mr. O'Brien delivered serious performances in the 
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courtroom that demonstrated his vast knowledge of and passion 
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for the law; Pat became a mentor to younger attorneys and was 
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generous in sharing his experiences; and

 
 


 






SR0817
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    WHEREAS, Mr. O'Brien shared his struggles with alcoholism; 
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he authored an article about his experiences for the Chicago 
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Bar Association and served as president of the State Lawyers' 
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Assistance Program, which helps lawyers deal with substance 
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abuse issues; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Pat O'Brien will be deeply felt by 
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all who knew and loved him;  he was the beloved husband of 
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Deborah O'Brien, nee Bissell; the loving father of Kathy (Tom) 
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Caplice, Mariellen (Mike) Hendricks, Patrick O'Brien, Jim 
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(Karen) O'Brien, Patti (T.J.) Sheahan, the late Eileen and 
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Michael O'Brien; the proud grandfather of Michael, Brian, 
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Eddie, Molly, Nell, Patrick, Carlin, Mac, Shaun, Eileen, Erin 
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and Margaret; the dear brother of the late Jim (Fran) O'Brien 
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and Paul (Ann) O'Brien; and the uncle of many; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Patrick William O'Brien, and we extend our sincere condolences 
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to his family, his friends, and all who knew and loved him; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to his family as an expression of our deepest 
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sympathy.