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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has called Ruth M. Rothstein from our midst; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein was a galvanizing healthcare leader with steely determination who often was visionary in her work; and
WHEREAS, starting out as a labor union organizer in Youngstown, Ohio at the age of 18, Mrs. Rothstein went on to organize labor unions in New York, Cleveland and Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein's focus switched to healthcare when she received on-the-job training as a lab technician at Jackson Park Hospital in 1952; by 1962 she had become personnel director of Jackson Park Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein next served in various positions at Mount Sinai Hospital and ascended to the positions of president and chief executive officer in 1977; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Mrs. Rothstein was appointed Chief of the Cook County Bureau of Health by Cook County Board President, Richard J. Phelan; she led the Bureau of Health until 2004; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein knew every square inch of the issue of healthcare - the policies, finances, administration. But she never forgot that it is all about the people; if Mrs. Rothstein was afraid of anything, it was of letting the patients down; and
WHEREAS, during her tenure as Health Bureau Chief, Mrs. Rothstein defied, as she had all her life, gender stereotypes; she cleaned up patronage, increased competency and rallied morale; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Hospital had lost its accreditation shortly before Mrs. Rothstein came onboard as Health Bureau Chief, and it was restored within a year; and
WHEREAS, under Mrs. Rothstein's tenure, Provident Hospital on Chicago's South Side was reopened; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein worked with the Chicago Department of Health to create 30 satellite health clinics throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, a lifelong believer that quality healthcare is a right of all residents, Mrs. Rothstein led the fight to build John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, guided by her conviction that Cook County residents, including its indigent, deserved nothing less than excellence; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein helped to forge a public-private partnership to construct an AIDS research and treatment facility in Cook County which was named, in her honor, The Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center; and
WHEREAS, through the abovementioned achievements, Mrs. Rothstein turned Cook County's healthcare system into a national model and championed better healthcare for the poor; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein continued to work up until her death, most recently as Chairwoman of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, in losing Mrs. Rothstein we have lost a tremendous person, an extraordinary advisor, and a woman of unfailing commitment and dedication who helped shape a public health care system that treats anyone who crosses its door; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rothstein is predeceased by her husband, David Rothstein, and is survived by a son, Jonathan Rothstein, a daughter, Martha and a grandson, Max.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Ruth Rothstein's memory shall be cherished in all of the hearts of the people whom she touched and loved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, does hereby express its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family as well as to the many friends and loved ones of Ruth M. Rothstein, and may a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered herewith.
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