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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE JOSEPH A. TECSON
WHEREAS, Joseph A. Tecson, a man whose wisdom and hard work had a major impact on the state of Illinois died at age 86. The goal of making the village of Riverside, the county of Cook and the state of Illinois a better place was a motivating and defining force in his life. He has left behind a devoted family, countless friends and a community enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Josepha Tecson diligently served the citizens of Cook County as a member of the Cook County Board for five years; he was the first Asian-American to serve on the Cook County Board; and
WHEREAS, while on the Cook County Board, Joseph Tecson served on the committee that oversaw Cook County Hospital and also served for many years on the Board of Directors of Brookfield Zoo; he was one of the greatest proponents of the Zoo's continual upgrades and addition of new exhibits; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson grew up in Lakeview, the only child of a single mother. After he graduated from Lake View High School he served his country as a Navy radioman during World War II on the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson attended Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin and later earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Wisconsin Law School; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson had a long and distinguished legal career. In the late 1970s, he founded Joseph A. Tecson and Associates, followed by Chuhak & Tecson in 1987, which he co-founded with the late Thomas S. Chuhak . He focused his practice on municipal law and health-care law. He was outside general counsel for MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn and the Clarke Group in St. Charles, Illinois and represented the village of North Riverside. He practiced law for more than 50 years before retiring;
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson was a visionary leader in the area of transportation. He served on the boards of the Regional Transportation Authority and Metra. He served as the initial chair of the board of the Regional Transportation Authority and later on the Metra Board. His article on the creation of the Regional Transportation Authority is still widely consulted regarding transportation matters; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson served as a delegate to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention which crafted an entirely new constitution for the people of Illinois and is a document that continues in effect today. He was appointed to chair the committee which drafted the executive article of the constitution and is largely credited with crafting the rules for how state officials are elected; and
WHEREAS, as a delegate, Joseph Tecson was known for his diplomatic skills, skills that were instrumental in brokering not only a truce between extremely different perspectives but helped craft a document that is widely regarded for its wisdom and fairness. The end result was a hard-fought set of compromises between many diverse interests in Illinois. Delegates wrestled with myriad hot-button issues, including the death penalty and employment and housing discrimination. It was largely due to Tecson's diplomacy at the convention that the delegates were able to put aside such polarizing differences. They created a document that continues to serve the people of Illinois nearly five decades later; and
WHEREAS, likewise, in the legal profession, Joseph Tecson will long be remembered for his ability to help adversarial parties find common ground. This quality is viewed by colleagues and family members as among the defining traits of his career and life; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson was a recognized governmental and healthcare expert, he served on the Board of Directors of MacNeal Hospital and helped lead the complete turnaround of that institution through the construction of a new replacement hospital; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson was frequently asked to serve as special counsel to various government agencies, including the Illinois Department of Insurance, the Medical Disciplinary Board, the Department of Public Aid, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Professional Regulation; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson also served on the boards of two banks and was the municipal attorney for the Village of North Riverside and an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Tecson's absence will be felt most acutely by his wife of over 60 years Caroline and their children, Andrew, Sarah and David; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board on behalf of the nearly the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of Joseph A.Tecson, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and does hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family, and many friends of Joseph Tecson and joins them in sorrow at the loss of this remarkable and accomplished civil servant and community leader; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and a suitable copy of same be tendered to the family of Joseph A. Tecson, that his memory may be so honored.end