[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19483]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO MRS. JOAN CLARA BERTRAND OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2010

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and honor a 
friend and great family woman, Mrs. Joan Clara Bertrand who made her 
heavenly transition on Saturday, December 4, 2010.
  Mrs. Bertrand love of music, education, and helping young people 
achieve their dreams served as her constant companion throughout life. 
She developed her passion for reading at an early age when in the 5th 
Grade, she wrote a winning essay ``Why I want to See Marion Anderson''.
  Mrs. Bertrand attended the University of Illinois at Navy Pier and 
subsequently the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating 
in 1954 with a degree in Physical Education. She was a member of Alpha 
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and served as president her senior year. 
Married on July 6, 1957 to the late Joseph Bertrand, Sr., the first 
African American to be elected citywide as City Treasurer of Chicago, 
she was blessed with 6 children; Joseph Jr., Joan, Jason, Justin, 
Jeffery, and Julian.
  Though Joan held a variety of jobs in her early days upon her 
graduation from the University of Illinois she completed her practice 
teaching in Elgin, Illinois and served as a Y.M.C.A. Assistant 
Secretary, Social Worker, and taught for 12 years at the Chicago Board 
of Education's Jefferson Elementary School.
  Madam Speaker, throughout her life, Joan was a member of countless 
community and civic organizations which centered on the education of 
young people including the University of Illinois Alumni Association, 
the University of Notre Dame, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacraments, 
the Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Teachers Association, St. 
Dorothy Catholic Church, St. Francis De Paula Catholic Church, Our Lady 
of Peace Catholic Church, Operetta Workshop, and Washington Park YMCA.
  Joan began her spiritual life at Woodlawn A.M.E. Church where she 
served in the music ministry alongside her mentor, Ms. Robbie Terry, 
who had a profound effect on her. In her later years, she was an active 
member and strong supporter of St. Phillip Neri Church, Big Buddies 
Youth Services, and the Alfreda Wells Duster Civic Club.
  Madam Speaker, I want to encourage Mrs. Joan Clara Bertrand's 
children, her sister Gwen, the entire family and many friends to always 
remember to look to the hills from which comes all of their help, 
trusting that their help will surely come from the Lord. I am truly 
blessed to have known her. I am honored to pay tribute to this 
outstanding gentlewoman and privileged to enter these words into the 
Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives.

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