Two great Illinois progressives are gone

[Critters2]

I jsut wanted to take a few moments to note the passing of two great progressives I used to work with in Champaign-Urbana. They both died in the last week, and they deserved to be remembered.

First, John Lee Johnson. I met John Lee when working at Champaign County Health Care Consumers. I loved John Lee's sharp wit, but also his commitment to the people of central Illnois. He worked with Homebuild to make it possible for first time homeowners, most of them people of color, to get mortgages. I worked with one of his clients to negotiate a payment plan with a local hospital, so that that debt wouldn't keep her from getting a loan. HIs commitment to her was remarkable. He also worked with other agencies, like the Illinois Center for Citizen Involvement, was politically active in C-U, had a show advocating progessive politics on WEFT-radio, and other issues. Mostly, he was a gret guy to have in the office across the hall--and one of several people in that suite who taught me that, where there's a will, there really is a way.

And Bill Mueller. Bill was the hardest working advocate for working people I've ever known. And for Bill it was never about making a name for himself or getting credit, just quietly working to make life better for others. Bill and I shared an office for 3 or 4 years, and for a time I supervised his work with "The Dental Program". In time, he did the work of helping poor people get dental care so well, that that program became his responsibility solely. HIs community organizing skills were superb, and again, were driven by his anger over the plight of the poor. But he wanted the campaigns he worked on to be of AND for the people. He was their advocate, but always listened to their concerns first. I remember watching the anger Bill would express whenever he learned of any injustice against the poor--be it unjust billing practices by hospitals, union-busting, or national Republican economic policies. Bill was driven to care, and I admired that so. I'll miss Bill's regular e-mailings of the latest Molly Ivins or Paul Krugman columns.

I jsut didn't want these two great advocates for working and poor people to pass without other Illinois progressives to know about them. Please of their families, and of all those in the organiziations to which they gave such dedication and commitment.

Thanks for reading.

To Bill and John Lee.... :toast:

[kevsand]

1. I just got back from the memorial gathering for Bill.

It was a little tough at times, but we also have the memory of Bill's devilishly wicked sense of humor to help us through it. His funeral will be Friday morning in Springfield.

John Lee's funeral will be Saturday morning in Urbana. As you might imagine, it's been pretty somber around the office this week. They're planning a tribute to both of them at the Health Care Consumers annual dinner April 28.

[davsand]

2. Well said.

They were both such amazing humans.

I will NEVER forget John Lee telling me about spending his high school "graduation" in jail. He'd been arrested at an action.

I wonder how many email lists Bill had. I could always count on him to find and send me stuff about the entire hospital issue. I know he had other issues he researched constantly, and I know that he had lists so he could target his emails to the people who would appreciate them.

When I was working on that entire Provena tax exemption case, Bill was a huge source of support for me. I could always count on him to understand when I was excited about another bit of case law I'd found that supported our position.

I will miss both those men. They had lives that mattered and they helped a LOT of people with what they did. Our community and world is diminished by their passing.


Laura

[turtle_girl72]

3. To Bill and John Lee

I loved listening to John Lee Johnson on his radio show on WEFT. He always made think and he always made me call in during pledge week. He was great to see at city council meetings as well.

The UCIMC has something up with links to some audio and some poetry.

http://www.ucimc.org/feature/display/113331/index.php

He will be missed.

[kevsand]

4. News-Gazette article about John Lee

Here: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/living/2006/03/24/voice_in_champaign-urbana_black_community_dies

His funeral is at 11 am tomorrow (Saturday) at Greater Holy Temple in Urbana. We expect it to be SRO.

Bill's funeral was this morning in Springfield. Claudia Lennhoff delivered the eulogy. It was pretty rough at times, but people are holding on to their memories of his wicked sense of humor and quiet strength to help them through this. There will also be another memorial for Bill at the Illinois Disciples Foundation in Champaign at a time to be determined.

I'm still collecting my thoughts to write up as a remembrance for both of them. I'll post them here if I'm able to finish something. Losing both of them literally within days of each other has been very hard to come to grips with.