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This Item was deferred at the 4/24/2019 meeting
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
REMEMBERING AND HONORING THE LIFE OF CRYSTAL CARBELLOS
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos was a proud and dedicated employee of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office for almost twenty years; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos passed away on February 22, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Minnesota and worked as a Certified Public Accountant; and
WHEREAS, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology in 1995 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1997; and
WHEREAS, as a law student Crystal Carbellos worked at the Chicago-Kent Law Offices as a clinic student defending those accused of crimes under the tutelage of Professor Richard Kling and found her calling to be the voice and a shield for the accused; and
WHEREAS, after getting her law degree, Crystal Carbellos joined the Cook County Public Defender’s Office as an assistant public defender in May 1997 and dedicated herself to finding justice for her clients; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos worked in the Traffic Division, Juvenile Justice Division, and Felony Trial Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office as an assistant public defender, before joining the special Homicide Task Force Division, where she worked for almost ten years; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos worked tirelessly to advocate for her clients, became the voice and a shield for her clients, and was a formidable trial attorney for her clients. Her dedication to ensuring equity and justice for her clients was steadfast and her compassion unquestionable; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos maintained relationships with her former clients, was a mentor to many other assistant public defenders, and was respected by her colleagues for her leadership, advocacy, and compassion; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos served her fellow assistant public defenders as the Treasurer for AFSCME, Council 31, AFL-CIO, Local 3315 for almost eight years; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos was born on September 6, 1947 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Richard F. Nekvinda and Olga M. Rubos. Crystal was an avid and loyal Minnesota Vikings and Prince fan; and
WHEREAS, Crystal Carbellos was a mother to four children: Nicole (Carley), Samuel, Reuben, and Adrienne; a grandmother to eight grandchildren: Jacquez, Samarah, Summer, Wynnston, Savannah, Ayden, Isabella, and Rubianna; and
WHEREAS, Crystal was loved and respected by her family, her clients, friends, and colleagues for her compassion, empathy, kindness, grace, strength, creativity, humor, positive spirit, loyalty, commitment to justice, and faith in humanity; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of Crystal Carbellos, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable and innumerable contributions she has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the family of Crystal Carbellos.
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