Bill Text: IL HR0941 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Karen Beyer.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-11-15 - Resolution Adopted [HR0941 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HR0941-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Karen
Beyer, a pillar of the Elgin community and the former CEO of
the Ecker Center for Mental Health; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer was a native of Euclid, Ohio; she
earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and
three master's degrees; she earned her Master of Social Work
from Loyola University; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer spent 10 years as Director of Health
and Human Services for the Village of Hoffman Estates and
eight years as the executive director at the Larkin Center;
for nearly 20 years, she worked at the Ecker Center to help
reshape the conversation around mental health and eliminate
the stigma toward people with mental illness; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer became a figure on the national stage
when she appeared before the Supreme Court in 1996 as part of
the Jaffee vs. Redmond case to support privacy rights between
therapists and patients; she was threatened with jail time for
refusing to turn over her notes about counseling sessions with
a Hoffman Estates police officer involved in a shooting; the
Supreme Court ruled in favor of Beyer and the protection of

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privacy rights; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer retired from the Ecker Center in 2019
but continued working as a board member for the Elgin Area
League of Women Voters and, most recently, as an appointee to
the Township's new 708 Mental Health Board; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer spent her life helping people,
especially those who don't often have the opportunity to get
help; she leaves behind generations of individuals who she
helped during her five decade career in social work and mental
health advocacy; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer was strong, creative, and passionate,
and her friends remember her as a warrior, a gentle soul, and a
blessing; and
WHEREAS, Karen Beyer is survived by her husband of 15
years, Joe Follrath; her daughter, Jennifer Beyer Zielinski;
her stepchildren, Tim Follrath and Hollee Koszewski; and seven
grandchildren; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Karen Beyer and extend our sincere
condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved

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her; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Karen Beyer as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.