Bill Text: IL HR0454 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourns the death of Ruth Colby of New Lenox.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0454 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0454-Introduced.html

---

HR0454 LRB103 34873 ECR 64736 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Ruth
Colby of New Lenox, who passed away on October 15, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Colby earned a bachelor's degree from
Northwestern University, a master's degree from New York
University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago,
specializing in finance; she married Donald M. DeFrank; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Colby served as president and CEO of Silver
Cross Hospital, where she oversaw marketing, planning
strategy, government relations, physician relations, and
recruitment, along with other critical areas; under her
leadership, Silver Cross Hospital opened Will County's first
and only Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, introduced an
open-heart surgery program, and championed the opening of the
Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery; she forged many
partnerships with leading Chicago based health systems,
including the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab for inpatient and
outpatient rehabilitation services, University of Chicago
Medicine for cancer services and neurosciences, the Rush
University Medical Center for lung surgery, the Ann and Robert
H. Lurie Children's Hospital for pediatric and neonatal
services, and US HealthVest to build the 110-bed Silver Oaks

HR0454 - 2 - LRB103 34873 ECR 64736 r
Behavioral Hospital; she served as vice president of Provider
Sales at Solucient, LLC and as the vice president of Business
Development at the University of Chicago Health Systems; she
held senior positions at the Sachs Group and HCIA/Sachs during
multiple mergers; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Colby was deeply engaged in community
service, including serving as the past president of the
Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, chair
of the Will County Center for Economic Development, board
member of the Will County Children's Advocacy Center, and the
chair-elect of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association;
she was appointed to the American Hospital Association's
Regional Planning Board for Region 5 and was a member of the
American Hospital Association Membership Group, the United Way
of Will County Pillars Society, the Joliet Rotary Club, and
the Economic Club of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Colby received the national award for
Individual Personal Achievement in 2009, the Athena Award from
the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce in 2021, and the
Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rainbow Council of the
Boy Scouts; she was named the New Lenox Citizen of the Year by
the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce in 2023, recognized as a
Notable Woman in Healthcare and a Notable Woman Executive over
age 50 by Crain's Chicago Business in 2019, and was honored by

HR0454 - 3 - LRB103 34873 ECR 64736 r
Crain's Chicago Business as a Notable Healthcare Executive;
and
WHEREAS, Ruth Colby was a beloved wife, loving mother and
aunt, and a dear sister and sister-in-law; she was known to her
community as a healthcare visionary through her work both
professionally and personally; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Colby is survived by her husband; her son,
David (Becky Riffkin) Chodak; her sister, Judy (Steven)
Dolins; her sister-in-law, Sue DeFrank; her nieces, Maddie
Dolins and Gabi Kastel; and her nephew, 1st Lieutenant U.S.
Navy Dr. Michael (Meredith) Beeler; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Ruth Colby and extend our sincere
condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
her; and be it further