Bill Text: IL HR0202 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Andrew Patner of Chicago.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-02-26 - Resolution Adopted [HR0202 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR0202-Introduced.html

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HR0202 LRB099 10903 MST 31595 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the untimely death of
Andrew Patner on February 3, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Andrew Patner was born on December 17, 1959, the
son of Irene and Marshall Patner; he grew up in Chicago's Hyde
Park neighborhood and attended William H. Ray Elementary School
and Kenwood High School; and
WHEREAS, After working as a staff assistant to Congressman
Ralph H. Metcalfe in Washington, D.C., Andrew attended the
University of Chicago, where he studied liberal arts and
history and was editor-in-chief of The Chicago Maroon; he
received his bachelor's degree in history from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison, thesis of distinction, in 1985; and
WHEREAS, Andrew's amazing ability to communicate
compelling stories, both verbally and in the written word,
allowed him to share his talents with Chicago and the rest of
the world; a published author, classical music writer,
freelance writer, former reporter for The Wall Street Journal,
former staff writer and editor at Chicago Magazine, and critic,
host, and producer for Chicago's National Public Radio
affiliate, WBEZ; he brought current events and the arts to life

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for his scores of readers and listeners; his significant
talents were recognized with a 1984 Peter Lisagor Award for his
coverage of race and politics leading up to Harold Washington's
election as mayor of Chicago and the 2000 James Friend Memorial
Award from The Friends of Literature for his criticism of the
arts; and
WHEREAS, Andrew's love of the arts, especially the arts in
Chicago, was unparalleled; he immersed himself in modern and
contemporary art, European painting and sculpture, world
cultures, photography, art history, and architecture; his
multifarious interests and expansive breadth of knowledge
allowed him to be as comfortable discussing local politics and
Chicago history as he was critiquing the latest musical
performance at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Andrew was critic-at-large for WFMT Fine Arts
Radio Chicago, where he hosted the weekly conversation program
Critical Thinking; his Critic's Choice commentaries were heard
3 times each week; and
WHEREAS, As a contributing critic to the Chicago Sun-Times,
Andrew covered classical music and opera, theater and dance,
art and architecture, cabaret, books, and film; he appeared as
a commentator on cultural and political matters for WTTW 11
television; and

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WHEREAS, Andrew was a pre-concert speaker and interviewer
at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and accompanied the orchestra
on numerous tours to Europe, the East Coast, Japan, and South
America; he was a mainstay at all of Chicago's major cultural
institutions, including the Lyric Opera, Steppenwolf Theater,
the Art Institute, the Field Museum, Chicago Opera Theater, and
the Chicago Humanities Festival; he lectured on modern and
contemporary music at the Risor Chamber Music Festival in
Risor, Norway; he taught students from around the world for the
Soros Foundations/Open Society Institute Council; and he
served as co-chair of the Interarts Council of The Arts Club of
Chicago, member of the Visiting Committee to the Department of
Music of the University of Chicago, and board member of KAM
Isaiah Israel Congregation, the Chicago Children's Choir, and
the Independent Voters of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Andrew was a charter member of the Association of
Literary Scholars and Critics, a founding member of the Chicago
Art Critics Association, and a member of the Music Critics
Association of North America, the Authors Guild, Inc., and the
executive committee of the American Theater Critics
Association; he was the first director of the Programs on Arts
Policy at Columbia College Chicago and a director of the
Minority High School Summer Journalism Camp at Roosevelt
University; he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian

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Hall of Fame in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Andrew was known for his sense of humor and for
his profound intelligence and his passion for Chicago; his
sudden passing is a devastating loss for his family, his wide
circle of friends, and all those who admired his work; and
WHEREAS, Andrew is survived by his partner, Tom Bachtell;
his mother, Irene; and his brothers, Seth and Joshua;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we, along with his family, friends, and colleagues, mourn the
passing of Andrew Patner; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Andrew Patner as an expression of
our deepest sympathies and respect.