[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17577-17578]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING JUDY BAAR TOPINKA

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to one of Illinois' 
great pioneers, State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. Judy passed away 
suddenly last night at the age of 70. She was the only woman in our 
State to hold two State constitutional offices, and her leadership 
built bridges for countless women.
  Born in 1944 to William and Lillian Baar, Judy and her family lived 
in Riverside, near Cicero and Berwyn, two blue-collar Chicago suburbs. 
Her mother ran a real estate business while her

[[Page 17578]]

father fought in World War II. She went to Northwestern University and 
graduated with a degree in journalism from the university's Medill 
School in 1966.
  Judy became a reporter for a suburban Chicago newspaper chain and 
rose through the ranks to editor. But in 1980, she decided to run for 
the Illinois House. She said she ran because the corrupt officials were 
ignoring the community.
  Her trademark humor and her work ethic served her well and she went 
to serve as State senator from 1985 until 1995. In 1994, she became the 
first woman in Illinois history to hold the post of State treasurer and 
then went on to set another first as the only State treasurer to be 
reelected to three consecutive terms. Judy was a consummate public 
servant. A few weeks ago, she was re-elected as State comptroller and 
was about to start her second term.
  Judy never shied away from taking tough stands or making the hard 
decisions. When it was not popular among many in her party, she was an 
advocate of women's rights and gay rights. When both parties needed to 
be held accountable, she was fearless. She was always a straight 
talker.
  She was one of a kind. Judy could play the accordion, and she spoke 
four languages--English, Czech, Spanish, and Polish. She loved dance 
polkas and really was Illinois' Polka Queen. Anyone who knew her also 
knew about her beloved dogs and their preference for McDonald's 
cheeseburgers. In an era where far too many are stuck on talking 
points, Judy said what she thought and did it with style.
  In a political world of cocker spaniels she could be a bulldog taking 
a bite out of both Democrats and right-wing Republicans without missing 
a beat. She was a blue-collar, immigrants' kid who lit up the room with 
her quick wit and boundless energy.
  Illinois lost someone special. My prayers and thoughts go out to her 
son Joseph, her new granddaughter Alexandra Faith, and the rest of her 
family.

                          ____________________