Bill Text: IL HR0512 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Joan Diane Alsberry.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-28 - Resolution Adopted [HR0512 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HR0512-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Joan
Diane Alsberry; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was born in Chicago to Irving and
Amanda Steele on October 7, 1947; she attended Parkman
Elementary School and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church
in Chicago; she graduated from Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High
School, where she was a member of the Girls Athletic
Association and captain of the cheerleader squad; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry attended community college in
Chicago and graduated from the University of Kansas School of
Medicine with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy; she
was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry began working at Mercy Hospital in
Chicago as a staff therapist and eventually became the
assistant director and clinical coordinator for students; she
also worked at Spaulding School and Tradewinds Rehabilitation
in Gary, Indiana; she later became the first African American
Director of Physical Therapy at Americana Healthcare Center in
Oak Lawn; in 1982, she became the Director of Physical Medicine
at South Chicago Hospital (Advocate Aurora Trinity); and

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WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry married William Adams; after his
passing, she married Vernard Alsberry Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry became a clinical instructor and
adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and
an instructor at the Chicago City Junior College for the
Physical Therapy Assistance Program; she helped to organize the
Support Organization for Minority Physical Therapists (SOMPT)
and was a charter member of the American Academy of Physical
Therapy (AAPT); and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry co-founded a private practice,
Superior Physical Therapy, eventually becoming the sole
proprietor; as her business grew, she added other
rehabilitation services and changed the name to Superior
Therapeutic Services Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry became the program director for
senior services at the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois; she
then joined her husband and founded Kids Health Club.com, a
fitness center for youth ages six to 16 years, which they
operated for eight years; she also briefly worked as a home
health physical therapist for Advocate South Suburban
Hospital; and

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WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry received numerous honors during
her professional life; in 1997, the Southland Chamber of
Commerce named her as its Small Business Person of the Year;
the American Academy of Physical Therapy presented her with the
Outstanding Leadership Award and the American Physical Therapy
Association presented her with the Diversity 2000 Award; she
also was named as a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical
Therapy; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was involved with numerous
organizations, including the Village of Hazel Crest Planning
and Zoning Commission, the Hazel Crest Senior Citizen
Commission, the Bremen Township Regular Democratic
Organization, the Chicago State University Occupational
Therapy Program, the Illinois Council on Aging, the Illinois
Interagency Council on Early Intervention, Age Options, the
Illinois Physical Therapy Association, the American Academy of
Physical Therapy, the Illinois Council of Case Coordinators
Units, and the Governors State University Physical Therapy
Program; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was a member of Hillcrest Baptist
Church in Country Club Hills; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry was preceded in death by her first
husband, William; her parents; her siblings, Ronald and

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Barbara; her stepmother, Ora McClinton; her stepfather,
Rudolph White; and her stepbrother, Lamar; and
WHEREAS, Diane Alsberry is survived by her husband of over
21 years, Village of Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry Jr.;
her sons, Perry Curtis Jr., William Sean Adams, Vernard (Linah)
Alsberry III, and John Cory Medlock; her daughters, Cindy
Denise Vinson, Catherine Curtis, Tiffany Diane Curtis, Vernica
(Tyrone) Alsberry-Griffin, and Moneecia (O'Shane)
Alsberry-Wilmoth; her brothers, Irving "Willie" (Peaches)
Steele Jr., Rudolph (Gregory Colombe) White, and Keith
McClinton; her sisters, Doretta (Jimmy) Smith and Venessa
(Tommy) Bodey; her nieces, Debra Brown and Metrneaa Gibson; her
nephews, Anthony and Jonathan Steele; her cousins, Roslyn,
Rosesharon, and Cleophus (Red) Clarke and Preston (Dojie)
Barksdale; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in law, Charles
(Lyndette) Alsberry, Keith (Mary), Kyle (Rosa), Melvin (Sonya)
Alsberry, and Lorraine McCoy; 15 grandchildren; her A-Team
family; and a host of extended family, close longtime friends,
and professional colleagues; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Joan Diane Alsberry and extend our
sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
and loved her; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Diane Alsberry as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.