SR0912 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Althea Przybylo Kroger, who passed away on August 30, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Althea Kroger was born in Chicago; her parents were Ted and Alice Przybylo; she attended St. Helen's Polish Catholic Grade School and Mt. St Mary High School; while at Mt. St. Mary, she played the piano and violin and performed in numerous orchestra concerts; she was also captain of the varsity basketball and volleyball teams and served as class officer and president of the Girls Athletic Association; and

WHEREAS, After high school, Althea Kroger attended St. Louis University, where she met the man of her dreams, Joe Kroger; after marrying in 1969, Joe and Althea moved to Toronto, where Althea became a mother to their loving son, Andrew; she subsequently earned her master's degree in political science from the University of Vermont, her law degree from Vermont Law School, and her Master of Public Administration Degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and

WHEREAS, Althea Kroger was committed to social justice and was an activist in women's rights; despite strong opposition, she was elected and served in the Vermont House of Representatives for 4 terms; she subsequently served 2 terms in the Vermont Senate before becoming a family court judge; and

WHEREAS, After a year of rest following her colon cancer diagnosis in 1996, Althea Kroger traveled to Poland and fell in love with the country and its people; after studying for a year in Krakow, she received her certification to teach English as a second language; she then purchased and renovated a large building and opened the Althea Institute in Debica, which was founded to teach English and leadership skills to business managers and civic leaders; for the next 10 years, she worked relentlessly to better the lives of many people in Poland and the world at large; and

WHEREAS, Althea Kroger is survived by her husband, Joseph; her son, Andrew (Carolina); her granddaughters, Gabrielle and Rachel; and her siblings, Vivian (Paul) Kolpak and her children, Todd Alexis, and Vanessa; Andrew (Amy) Przybylo and his children, Adam and Kiki; Alice (Tony) Pawlicki and her children, Allison, Angie, and Stacie; Vicki (Bill) Pindras and her children, Andrea, David, Laura, Eric, and Emilie; and Ted (Alicja) and his children, Michelle, Alex, and Jack; she also had 14 first cousins; therefore, be it

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

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Althea Kroger as an expression of our sympathy.