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* They just don’t make ‘em like Suzanne anymore…
Aurora is mourning the passing of Suzanne Deuchler, a state representative from Aurora for 18 years in the 1980s and ‘90s who died last week at the age of 92. […]
Suzanne Deuchler served 18 years as a Republican state representative from Aurora in the General Assembly, after serving four years representing the West Side of Aurora on the Kane County Board. […]
She served on the Education, Appropriations, Banking, Transportation and Environment committees in the Illinois House. She was known for her support of women’s issues, including abortion rights and the Equal Rights Amendment, and for supporting environmental issues. She was instrumental in establishing Nelson Lake Nature Preserve in Kane County.
She also was a supporter of education initiatives, and was one of the representatives instrumental in establishing the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora, as well as the Orchard Road interchange with Interstate 88.
She was a great lady and I always enjoyed our talks. My deepest sympathies to her family.
* Related…
* June 3, 2011 Interview with Suzanne Deuchler
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 9:50 am
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**a Republican state representative … known for her support of women’s issues, including abortion rights and the Equal Rights Amendment, and for supporting environmental issues**
Sigh…
They definitely don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
Comment by SaulGoodman Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 9:55 am
Wow, talk about a legacy of accomplishments.
Comment by Hot Taeks Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:05 am
@SaulGoodman - I was going to say the exact same thing.
I didn’t live in Illinois in the 80s or 90s, so I have to wonder though: why was she a Republican even then? It isn’t like the Republican party’s hostility to these issues is a recent development.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:28 am
While working as a staffer for over 7 years I had the opportunity to interact with Rep. Deuchler. She was very sweet and respectful to pretty much anyone I saw who approached her with a question or/and issue. My sympathies to her family/loved ones.
Comment by Moi Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:28 am
** why was she a Republican even then? **
She was before my time… but even in my time over the last 15 years (ok, early in those years), we had folks like Beth Coulson and Rosemary Mulligan and others who cared about these issues and voted for them, despite their party affiliation.
Comment by SaulGoodman Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:30 am
==I didn’t live in Illinois in the 80s or 90s, so I have to wonder though: why was she a Republican even then? ==
There was a significant bloc of pro choice Republicans then, which started with Gov Thompson (1977-91). They were liberal on social issues but conservative on economic ones. Thats why they took the Repub label (also because the suburbs they represented were Republican.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:44 am
I worked with Rep. Deuchler while on the House GOP staff in the early 90s. She was a great lady and, as others have noted, one of quite a few pro-choice GOP legislators back during that time. Rep. Virginia Frederick was another one I admired back then for her support of abortion rights and the ERA. Her pro-business stance was what aligned her with the Republicans.
Comment by ??? Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:51 am
She was very kind whenever I had a chance to say hello. Yes it was a different time to be a R. I miss those times vs what we witness today. Prayers to the family, lost a good one.
Comment by BTO2 Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:55 am
The flipside held true as well: there was a fair sized contingent of pro life Democrats as well
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 11:14 am
RIP Suzanne.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 12:43 pm
She was a very kind lady and a good public servant. RIP Suzanne.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 4:56 pm
Rep. Suzanne Deuchler was instrumental in building bipartisan political coalitions to establish the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) in the 1980s and remained a steadfast supporter during her years in the General Assembly and after her retirement in 1999. I enjoyed collaborating with her on numerous issues and challenges. She was straightforward, dependable, kind, and fun.
Our paths also crossed in various civic activities, AAUW among them, and she was my State Representative, a moderate Republican I was proud to vote for multiple times.
Godspeed, Suzanne, and thanks. 😇
Comment by Cathy Veal Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 10:51 pm