Bill Text: IL SR1290 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Steven Bela Szigethy, M.D. of Oblong.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-01-06 - Resolution Adopted [SR1290 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR1290-Introduced.html

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SR1290 LRB102 29650 MST 41688 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Steven Bela Szigethy, M.D. of Oblong,
who passed away on January 5, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Szigethy was born in Repcelak, Komitat Vas,
Hungary on September 15, 1932; after completing four years of
elementary school in Repcelak in 1942, he was accepted to the
Faludi Ferenc Gymnasium, a preparatory school, in Szombathely,
where he graduated in 1951; and
WHEREAS, For family and political reasons, Dr. Szigethy
could not participate in university studies and therefore took
a position as a lathe operator trainee at the Wilhelm Pieck
Rail Car and Engineering Factory in Gyor, Hungary; after nine
months of apprenticeship, he took the craftsman test on August
1, 1952; after three months of work as a lathe operator, he was
made a section leader; in March of 1953, he was conscripted
into the Hungarian People's Army and served until April 1955;
upon completion of his military service, he returned to the
factory in Gyor, where he worked until November of 1956; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Szigethy fled Hungary during the Hungarian
Revolution/Uprising of 1956; he arrived in Canada in the
Spring of 1957 and, despite only speaking German and

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Hungarian, was able to find a job working for the Canadian
Pacific Railways in Saskatchewan; in his free time, he learned
how to speak English by watching Hollywood films and by
referring to an Introduction to English textbook; and
WHEREAS, After several years, Dr. Szigethy decided it was
time to pursue his ultimate goal of becoming a medical doctor;
he was accepted to study medicine at the University of Vienna
in 1965; he worked hard and graduated with his degree in 1973;
shortly after graduation, he moved from Austria to New York
City, where he met his wife, Maria Rodriguez; she was also an
immigrant, as she was born and raised in Colombia; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Szigethy and his family moved to Blue Island
before moving to Oblong in 1979; he operated his own clinics in
both Oblong and Newton and also had hospital rights at
Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson; and
WHEREAS, Even after all the difficulties he endured after
leaving Hungary, Dr. Szigethy was determined to pursue a
medical career in the United States; he was not just an
ordinary man but a true public servant; he tirelessly served
the communities of Oblong and Newton for nearly four decades
as a physician; patients often heard the words "no charge",
especially if the patient could not afford services; and if a
patient could not afford the ambulance ride to the hospital,

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he might take them himself at "no charge"; he was a diplomate
of the American Board of Family Practice; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Szigethy was a deeply caring and
compassionate physician with a smile that warmed the hearts of
all who knew him; he enjoyed listening to classical music,
reading books, watching movies, woodworking, and traveling;
and
WHEREAS, At the time of his death, Dr. Szigethy was
survived by his wife, Maria; his children, Xavier, Ilona,
Carolyn, and Stephen Alexander and their spouses, Melanie,
Alex, Mike, and Kristen; he was also the proud grandfather of
Xavier, Sofia, Delfina, John, Oliver, Natalie, Noah, Hannah,
and Carly; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Steven Bela Szigethy, 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. Szigethy as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.