SENATE RESOLUTION

                            8617

By Senator Snyder, McAuliffe, Haugen, Hargrove, Benton, Brown, Carlson, Constantine, Costa, Deccio, Eide, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Gardner, Hale, Hewitt, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Long, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Parlette, Patterson, Prentice, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rossi, Sheahan, Sheldon, B., Sheldon, T., Shin, Spanel, Stevens, Swecker, Thibaudeau, West, Winsley and Zarelli

     WHEREAS,  Joanne "Obie" Alger was a much loved and dedicated staff member of the Senate and Legislative families; and

     WHEREAS, She supervised the Legislature's toll-free hotline for nearly twenty years, ensuring a critical and caring connection between the citizens of Washington State and their elected officials; and

     WHEREAS, Joanne left us too suddenly and far too soon on Friday, December 15, 2000, leaving family and friends saddened to have lost her, but blessed to have known her at all; and

     WHEREAS, Her small stature seemed out of proportion to her big heart, endless wit, and enormous reservoir of  Irish fortitude; and

     WHEREAS, Joanne was blessed with a large, loving and talented family, including three sons, two daughters, and twelve beautiful grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, Appreciating the combination of skill, chance and competition, Joanne loved playing bridge as a Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League, and also enjoyed the camaraderie and fun with her bi-monthly Pinochle group; and

     WHEREAS, Joanne was an avid and patient baseball fan and will be looking down when the Mariners finally win the World Series; and

     WHEREAS, We will all miss her deeply but are comforted by the knowledge that our loss is Heaven's gain;

     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Washington State Senate mourn the loss of this wonderful person, but cherish her memory and extend its thanks for her dedicated service to this institution and state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Joanne Alger's family and the Legislative Hotline.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8617,

adopted by the Senate March 9, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate