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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
JAMES E. RYAN, IN MEMORIAM
WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called Jim Ryan from our midst on June 12, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan was the beloved husband of 54 years to his high school sweetheart, Marie, nee Pahls; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan was the devoted father of John (Stacie), Jim (Jennifer), Matthew (Melissa), Amy, the late Patrick, and the late Ann Marie; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan was the proud grandfather of Caitlyn, Joey, Sarah, Grace, Emma, Stella, Elly, Sophie, Sam, Michael, and Molly; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan was the cherished brother of Maria (Terry) Koch and Margaret (John) Noldan; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan was the dear uncle to Terry (Stacey) Koch, Tom (Kim) Koch, John Noldan, Katie (James) Chivilo, Jenny (Pete) Jahn, and Maggie (Dan) Gallagher; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan was born in Chicago and grew up in Villa Park. His father, Edward, was a homebuilder, and his mother, Elisa, was an Italian immigrant and homemaker; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan graduated from St. Procopius Academy, now Benet Academy, and what is now Illinois Benedictine University before getting his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan started his legal career with the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and was promoted to first assistant state's attorney after three years; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, Jim Ryan left his state's attorney job to enter private practice; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, Jim Ryan ran for DuPage County State's Attorney-a position he held for three terms; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Jim Ryan won the election for Illinois Attorney General, and in 1998, he easily won again; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan endured a string of personal tragedies and challenges, including the deaths of two of his children, nearly losing his wife to a heart illness, beating cancer three times, and recovering from heart surgery; and
WHEREAS, Jim Ryan founded the Center for Civic Leadership at Benedictine University to bolster student involvement in ci...
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