Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Phil Rock passes away
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Phil Rock passes away

Friday, Jan 29, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I didn’t know him well, but to this day, whenever I think about the Illinois Senate, I think of Phil Rock…


…Adding… Press release…

House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, D-Chicago, issued the following statement Friday, mourning the passing of former Senate President Phil Rock:

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Senate President Phil Rock. He was a great friend, mentor and member of the General Assembly for many, many years. His accomplishments, especially in the area of bettering the lives of children, are legion. Shirley and I join with his many friends and colleagues in offering sympathy and prayers to Sheila and their children for comfort and strength in these difficult times.”

       

28 Comments
  1. - 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:17 am:

    RIP to a legend, a giant of Illinois politics and more importantly, as decent a man as ever walked the halls of the Capitol.


  2. - paddyrollingstone - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:21 am:

    Amen, 47th Ward. A great, great man. He once told me after my grandfather died and I thanked him for coming to the Mass: “I would have come back from the dead to be there.”

    Let us praise an illustrious man
    Faithful to his family and friends, strong in love.
    At peace in his heart and in his world.
    He has left us his good name and we recount his good name,
    And we recount his praiseworthy deeds.
    A generous man, his good works will never be forgotten.
    Among his family and his friends, there remains
    A rich inheritance born of him.
    His inheritance will last forever. His glory will not fade.
    His name lives on from generation to generation.
    We gather this day to sing his praises.
    We will proclaim his wisdom and his love of life all our days.

    The Book of Ecclesiastes


  3. - A guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:22 am:

    RIP. A genuinely decent and wonderful man.


  4. - Mongo - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:25 am:

    RIP, a great man and a great political force. Knew how to make the grand bargain and always, always looked out for those in need.


  5. - Downstate - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:26 am:

    During his Senate campaign he came to speak to our college political science class. Very impressive speaker.


  6. - sad - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:33 am:

    A great man.


  7. - Loop Lady - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:36 am:

    If only there were more like him…
    Godspeed and my sympathies to his wonderful family…


  8. - Because I said so..... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:38 am:

    I remember waiting in line to get in a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. He was president of the Senate at the time and in line behind me. I’m sure he could have easily talked himself to the head of the line but didn’t. I was impressed.


  9. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:39 am:

    ===I didn’t know him well, but to this day, whenever I think about the Illinois Senate, I think of Phil Rock…===

    I have tried to think of a comment on my own, I couldn’t.

    This says it best. This says it all form me.

    My sincere condolences to Mr. Rock’s family and friends.


  10. - Publius - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:39 am:

    Dealt with him during the first year of the Edgar Administration Always a gentleman. Always a man of his word. A public servant who was a tough negotiator but who always tried to work things out for the public good.


  11. - And I Approved This Message - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:44 am:

    A classy gentleman in every way. And apparently a dying breed in politics.


  12. - Steve Schnorf - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:55 am:

    One of the really good guys. How we miss people like him in government and politics


  13. - Been There - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:59 am:

    Great man with a great family. As stated by others he never put on like he was more important than anyone else in the room. Just easy to get along with.


  14. - Janeway63 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:17 pm:

    My sincere condolences to the Rock family. He was a man whose word you could count on and who I respected greatly.


  15. - Keyser Soze - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:17 pm:

    Good guy. We need more like him.


  16. - VanillaMan - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:26 pm:

    I remember how he worked with Thompson on many state issues.

    Bipartisanship!

    ‘Sigh’


  17. - Retired Lawyer - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:22 pm:

    I lived in Oak Park while he was a senator and worked on a legal assistance program with him. He indeed was a legend in Illinois politics, a true statesman and a fine lawyer. My sincere condolences to his family.


  18. - Tommydanger - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:39 pm:

    I owe my career to Phil Rock. As decent, caring and effective legislator as there ever was.

    He also had a handshake that would swallow your hand and that conveyed both his strength and grace.


  19. - Jeff Johnson - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:45 pm:

    Phil was a well respected by both sides of the aisle. Unlike today, there was a time to govern and a time to be political. I’m sure my wife and Phil will have some nice conversations about the old days and how bad things have now gotten. RIP Senator.


  20. - Casual observer - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:16 pm:

    I remember him playing short stop at the house v senate softball game. He was good and he showed leadership on the field. Not long after he became President of the Senate.


  21. - Old Lobbyist - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:19 pm:

    A great guy. Too many of the old state players are leaving us.


  22. - Ken Robbins - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:27 pm:

    It’s hard to top all of the accolades already given by others. I can only say that as the now retired head of a major trade association, there was no person in public office for whom I ever had more respect and trust than I had for Phil. In fact, once he left public office I asked and he agreed to serve on our Board, where his contributions were all we could have asked for. During sometimes contentious policy discussions at the board, I can still hear him say: “But did you ever think about looking at it this way…”. And inevitably we did.


  23. - Cassandra - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:46 pm:

    He wasn’t that old by today’s standards. Lewy body disease is a scourge. It should be a priority for medical research. But many people have never heard of it.


  24. - relocated - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 4:15 pm:

    Its hard to imagine the stuff thats happening now, happening on Sen Rock’s watch. He was a true statesman who always raised the process above the petty stuff. Not that he couldnt or wouldn’t throw a sharp elbow or two when needed but at the end of the day the job got done.


  25. - Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 4:26 pm:

    VM, in reading of his passing, I also recalled how Sen. Rock worked with JRT to get some big things done.

    A true statesman.


  26. - dr. reason a. goodwin - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 4:42 pm:

    A total class act who didn’t let his political partisanship get in the way of good government.


  27. - Nancy Fritzsche - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 4:44 pm:

    So proud to have worked for Senator Rock.. The absolute highlight of my long state career. He was a statesman. And a gentleman and I know that I am a better person for knowing him. Godspeed Mr President


  28. - Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 8:11 am:

    Class act who was so kind, even to those who he knew he would not benefit directly from. Always treated me with such kindness whenever I had the privilege of being around him, and I certainly was not in a position to benefit him…he was kind because it was his nature. Thank You Mr President, and may you rest in peace.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Let's help these kids!
* Once again, a Chicago revenue idea would require state approval
* Lion Electric struggling, but no state subsidies have yet been paid out
* Question of the day
* Madigan trial roundup: Solis faces first day of cross-examination
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller