SR1533 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1533 LRB100 21201 ALS 37323 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Agnes Lattimer of Hyde Park, who passed away on January 9, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Arthur O'Neil and Hortense Lewis Lattimer on May 13, 1928; she was the oldest of six children; she was valedictorian of Booker T. Washington High School and received a full scholarship to Fisk University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology; she them moved to Chicago and worked as a housekeeper for 18 months to save for medical school; she graduated from Chicago Medical School, where she was the only African American in her class and one of just two women, in 1954; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer completed her residency in Pediatrics at Michael Reese Hospital and became Chief Resident in her final year of the program; following her residency, she established a private pediatric practice while also teaching at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois and Chicago Medical School; she served as Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics and as Director of Fantus Health Center at Cook County Hospital; she was named Director of Cook County in March 1986 and was believed to be the only African American woman to head a major hospital; as Director of Cook County Hospital, she oversaw safeguards to protect patients and staffers during the early days of AIDS; she testified in Washington, D.C. on the need to fight hunger; as the Chair of the Chicago Committee Against Lead Poisoning, she urged City Hall to crack down on owners of buildings with flaking lead paint; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., which she joined as an undergraduate at Fisk; and

WHEREAS, During her career, Dr. Lattimer received many honors and accolades, including being named as Pediatrician of the Year by the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; she also received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Chicago Medical School and from the Michael Reese Alumni Association; she was named Outstanding Executive Employee in Cook County Government in 1987 and also received Outstanding Community Service Awards from many communities throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer's marriage to Bernard Goss ended in divorce; in 1971, she married Frank Bethel; and

WHEREAS, Outside of medicine, Dr. Lattimer enjoyed flying, and she achieved her dream of earning a pilot's license in 1966; she loved the ability to fly to another county or city for lunch or dinner; and

WHEREAS, According to her colleagues, Dr. Lattimer was a legend in medicine in Chicago; she was a leading expert in areas such as lead poisoning and its effects on childhood development; she was an advocate for quality healthcare for the underprivileged; she commanded respect and gave it, treating patients living in poverty with the same empathy she showed rich people; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, and her son, Bernard Goss Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer is survived by her grandson, Bernard Goss III; her sister, Camille Lattimer; her nieces, Holly Jones and Sandra Love; and her nephew, Keith Jones; 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. Agnes Lattimer and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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