SR0370 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0370 LRB104 14344 LAW 27477 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Stuart Allen Yaffe, M.D. of Springfield, who passed away on June 11, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Yaffe was born to Samuel and Florence (Gralnick) Yaffe in Springfield on July 6, 1927; he graduated from Springfield High School in 1945; he served stateside in the United States Army during World War II for 18 months; he attended and graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks before Alaska gained statehood; he earned his medical degree from St. Louis University; he married Natalie Goldstein in St. Louis, Missouri on December 21, 1952, and she preceded him in death on March 13, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Yaffe returned to Springfield to join the general practice of Dr. Rex Campbell; he viewed smoking as the number one avoidable cause of death in our society and was serving as president of the Sangamon County Medical Society when an agreement was reached in 1989 to ban smoking in St. John's and Memorial Hospitals; after his daughter, Kim, finished her family medicine residency in 1990, she joined his practice, and they worked side-by-side as Springfield Clinic partners for a quarter century until he retired at age 89; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Yaffe was a life member of the American Academy of Family Practice, which he joined in 1962, and he was a longtime member of Temple B'rith Sholom in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Yaffe began pursuing running as a hobby at the age of 40, and he could often be seen running in Washington Park six days a week or more well into his 70s; his passion for running led him to making great friends and completing 38 marathons; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Yaffe will be remembered as a proud and loving husband, father, and grandfather and as a physician who remained dedicated to the welfare of his patients; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Yaffe is survived by his children, Scott (Edie) Yaffe and Kim (Bernie) Schoenburg, M.D., and four grandchildren, Steven (Allison) Yaffe, David Yaffe, Sam (Nigel Cooney) Schoenburg, and Elly (Victor) Schoenburg Obasaju; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Stuart Allen Yaffe, M.D. 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. Yaffe as an expression of our deepest sympathy.