SR0327 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0327 LRB097 13340 KXB 57856 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Benjamin Lubin of Chicago, who passed away on March 1, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Benjamin Lubin was the eldest child born to the union of Octille and Hosey Lubin, in Lake Charles, Louisiana; his family grew to include his sister, Dorothy Bell, and two brothers, Calvin and Huey; he accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, in Lake Charles; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Lake Charles' W.O. Boston High School, he joined the United States Army and served during the Korean War as a paratrooper; after completing 23 years of service, he was honorably discharged, having received the Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal; and

WHEREAS, After returning to the United States, he moved to Chicago and met the love of his life, Peggy Hamer, and they enjoyed 49 years of marriage, setting an example of love, companionship, and mutual respect; to this union two children were born, the late Dwain Phillip Lubin, a mechanical engineer, and Niva Marie Bennette Lubin; and

WHEREAS, For more than a decade, he worked two jobs to allow his wife the freedom to complete her undergraduate studies and obtain her Master's degree; he worked at Chicago's London House, where he met Robert Vaughn, who quickly became his best friend and ultimately godfather to his daughter; their friendship lasted over 50 years; Robert encouraged Ben to follow his occupational path, with Ben completing the Meat Cutting and Merchandising Program at Washburne Trade School and working for A&P Foods; he later worked for Zenith Vending, where he serviced vending machines, and Technicolor Filmmakers; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, he began working for his final employer, United Airlines; the travel bug bit him and his family and they routinely visited such tropical spots as Hawaii, California, the Bahamas, Florida, the Cayman Islands, and taking an Alaskan cruise; in 1996, they traveled to Ghana with a group led by the late Dr. Margaret Burroughs; and

WHEREAS, He was an avid golfer and loved to watch golf on television; after his wife's passing, he joined the church of his daughter and son-in-law, Trinity United Church of Christ; he was an active member of the Greeter's Ministry and the Gentleness Team, welcoming worshippers to the church with a smile and a warm hello and welcome; and

WHEREAS, He made friends wherever he went and was a regular at Mather's Senior Center and Café for 4 years; he enjoyed the fried catfish on Fridays and a late breakfast on Wednesdays; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, and his son, Dwain; and

WHEREAS, Benjamin Lubin is survived by his devoted daughter, Niva Lubin-Johnson, M.D.; his loving son-in-law, Joseph Johnson; his brother, Calvin; his mother-in-law, Johnnie Jackson; his best friend, Robert Vaughn; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Benjamin Lubin; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Benjamin Lubin as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.