SR0328 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0328 LRB100 11960 MST 23825 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. James C. Forstall of Springfield, who passed away on March 3, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Joseph Carroll and Helen Lockley Forstall; he married Giovanna F. Vannini in Livorno, Italy on February 21, 1959; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall served his country as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army; he did tours of duty in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and retired from the Army after 20 years of service; he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and three Meritorious Unit Citations; he represented President Richard M. Nixon at the Presidential Wreath Laying at the Lincoln Tomb on Lincoln's birthday in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall received his doctorate in higher education and educational administration from Illinois State University in 1985 and dedicated decades of his life to higher education; he worked as Administrative Assistant to the President of Sangamon State University, as Vice-President of Student Affairs at Lincoln Land Community College, and as Associate Director of Grants Administration for the Illinois Board of Higher Education; he also worked for the Dean of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall was a member of St. Agnes Parish; he was active in the Springfield Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Retired Officers Association, the Frontiers International Club of Springfield, and the Lion's Club; he was a vocal member of many organization's boards, including Memorial Medical Center, Goodwill Industries, the Marine Bank Student of the Year Scholarship, the American Savings Bank, the Citizens Club of Springfield, and the Better Government Association Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall was appointed by United States Congressman Paul Findley to the District Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration; he was a member of SCORE and for the past 10 years, a member of the Springfield Dominican Anti-Racism Team; he served as Co-Chairman of the Diocesan Task Force for Racial Justice and as a Diocesan representative on the Peace and Social Justice Committee; and

WHEREAS, In December of 2013, Dr. Forstall was bestowed the "Magnificat Award" by The Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield; he earned the First Citizen Award in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Forstall is survived by his wife, Giovanna; his sons, Giulio (Dorris) and Gregory (Tami) Forstall; his grandchildren, Stephanie, Gabrielle, Savannah, and Chana; and several cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. James C. Forstall, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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