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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3		to learn of the death of Robert William "Bob" Haisman of Oak
4		Park, who passed away on September 2, 2023 at the age of 77;
5		and
6		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman was born in Chicago on October 7,
7		1945; he grew up in Berwyn, and his childhood was filled with
8		playing outside and spending time with friends; and
9		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman spent the Saturdays of his childhood
10		working with his father, Louis, who was a strong union
11		activist and worked for the Sunbeam Corporation; at an early
12		age, he also began accompanying his mother, Mildred, on
13		political errands, which ranged from raising awareness of
14		Democratic candidates to ringing doorbells to ask for support;
15		and
16		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman loved learning; when he was in fifth
17		grade, a teacher called his parents and encouraged them to
18		send him to college, so they made it their mission to do so;
19		and
20		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman attended Morton West High School and
21		graduated in 1963 at the age of 17; his summer job that year

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1		was working in the American Federation of Labor and Congress
2		of Industrial Organizations' Chicago headquarters, where he
3		saw a flier for a bus to attend the March on Washington for
4		Jobs and Freedom; and
5		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman took the 19-hour bus ride to
6		Washington, D.C., his first visit to the nation's capital, and
7		heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech
8		in-person, an experience that moved him profoundly and spoke
9		to his core belief that all men are created equal; and
10		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman attended Morton Junior College for
11		two years; he then enrolled at Illinois State University; in
12		1968, he graduated with both a bachelor's degree and a
13		master's degree; and
14		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman was hired shortly after his
15		graduation to teach history at Hinsdale South High School,
16		making many lifelong friends with fellow teachers and
17		cultivating positive relationships with his students who
18		affectionately nicknamed him "Hais"; and
19		WHEREAS, When he began working, Bob Haisman immediately
20		joined the Hinsdale High School Teachers' Association,
21		starting his lifelong commitment to fighting for the rights of
22		students and teachers; during his over 30-year career at

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1		Hinsdale, he helped organize events to raise money for student
2		activities and became a leader in every fight for better
3		working conditions and wages for school staff; and
4		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman took a six-year leave from teaching
5		to serve two terms as president of the Illinois Education
6		Association; he worked tirelessly with Executive Director Clay
7		Marquardt to create a positive framework for serving districts
8		across the State; during this time, he lobbied then-State
9		Senator Barack Obama, urging him to support various bills that
10		aimed to improve education quality in Illinois; and
11		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman loved working with students, and
12		teaching showcased his heart and soul; his sense of humor,
13		work ethic, and treatment of his students as young adults, not
14		children, guaranteed that he was a hit; and
15		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman continued working hard later in life,
16		focusing on a number of issues, including social justice,
17		poverty, hunger, gun violence, and more; his allegiance to
18		liberal activism and causes was demonstrated in his work as a
19		precinct captain for State Senator Phil Rock and his work with
20		State Senator Don Harmon and the Democratic Party of Oak Park,
21		where he inspired and encouraged many and served as the
22		longtime leader of the Farmer's Market crew; he had an
23		extensive history of volunteering for former President Barack

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1		Obama, helping with his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, his 2008
2		presidential campaign, and his 2012 re-election campaign; and
3		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman and his wife, Janet, loved sharing
4		holiday and travel experiences with their nieces and nephews,
5		which included an overland trip from Germany to Russia, a
6		safari experience in Tanzania, and a visit to Australia; for
7		their 40th wedding anniversary, celebrated in July of 2023, he
8		and Janet took an Ohio River cruise; and
9		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman greeted life with gusto and never
10		stopped his pursuit of knowledge; as a champion for the rights
11		and responsibilities of students and teachers, a good
12		listener, and a loyal friend, he will be missed in
13		unforeseeable ways; and
14		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman was preceded in death by his parents;
15		his brother, Wayne; his brother-in-law, David; his
16		sister-in-law, Grace; and many friends; and
17		WHEREAS, Bob Haisman is survived by his wife; his nephews
18		and their families, Dale (DeDe, Chris, and Caitlin) and Brett
19		(Tammie, Shannon, and Sam); his former sisters-in-law, Diane
20		and Margie; his brother-in-law, Jack Knowles and his children
21		and their families, Jacqui (Trish), Ben (Elizabeth and
22		Maisie), and Rachel (Ashley, Kenzie, and Claire); and his

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1		brother-in-law David's children, Juliet (Sage, Lindsey, and
2		Autumn) and Adam (Alma, Camila, and Victoria); therefore, be
3		it
4		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
5		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6		Robert William "Bob" Haisman and extend our sincere
7		condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
8		him; and be it further