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92_HR1157
LRB9218370KFkfA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of
3 the State of Illinois recently learned with great sorrow of
4 the death of David M. Peterson of Skokie on Sunday, November
5 10, 2002; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Peterson graduated from Loras College in
7 Dubuque, Iowa; he began his teaching career at LeMoyne Upper
8 Grade Center in the Chicago Public School system in 1965; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Peterson joined the staff of the Chicago
10 Teachers Union in 1972 as a field representative and went on
11 to become its lobbyist and the Assistant to the President for
12 Legislation and Technical Projects in 1975, a position he
13 held for 26 years; and
14 WHEREAS, Mr. Peterson held a multitude of elected and
15 appointed positions in the Chicago Teachers Union and the
16 Illinois Federation of Teachers, including area
17 vice-president, executive board member, IFT vice-president
18 and convention delegate at numerous conventions of the
19 Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation
20 of Teachers; and
21 WHEREAS, Mr. Peterson served as the Chicago Teachers
22 Union's chief lobbyist from 1975 until his retirement in June
23 of 2001 and played a major role in improving public education
24 and the professional livelihood of Chicago Teachers Union
25 members during those years, including the passage of
26 collective bargaining rights for teachers and
27 paraprofessionals, numerous pension improvements, and several
28 major funding initiatives including the creation of the
29 School Finance Authority which dealt with the severe funding
30 crisis of Chicago Public Schools in 1979; and
31 WHEREAS, His passing is a grievous loss to his family and
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1 his community; through his leadership and compassion, he
2 leaves a legacy of service excellence; and
3 WHEREAS, The passing of David Peterson will be deeply
4 felt by his many colleagues and friends, and especially his
5 wife and best friend, Pamelyn Massarsky; his children,
6 Kristen Ann, Andrew Nelson, Gretchen Louise, and Erik John
7 and Kimberly Ann Peterson; his mother, Vera (Mrs. Charles)
8 Peterson; his mother-in-law, Marjorie H. (Mrs. Raphael P.)
9 Massarsky; his grandchildren, Taylor Danielle and David
10 Charles Peterson; his siblings, Kathleen and Michael Ferrigan
11 and Susan and Joseph Brell; his brothers and sisters-in-law,
12 Bonnie and Jerry Lebovitz and Michael and Michelle Massarsky;
13 and countless nieces, nephews and friends; therefore, be it
14 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16 we mourn, along with all who knew and loved him, the death of
17 David M. Peterson and extend our sincere condolences to his
18 family and friends; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the family of David M. Peterson as an expression
21 of our sympathy.
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