Florida Senate - 2017                            (NP)    SR 1812
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       37-02982-17                                           20171812__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the extraordinary
    3         contribution of John W. Walsh in the fight against
    4         alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and remembering his
    5         life and legacy.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, John W. Walsh was born on February 4, 1949, in
    8  Arlington, Massachusetts, received a degree in political science
    9  from Norwich University, served as a staff assistant to the
   10  United States Senate, and served his country as an Army Ranger
   11  in the Army Special Forces Reserves, and
   12         WHEREAS, John W. Walsh went on to become a successful
   13  business executive and real estate developer, and
   14         WHEREAS, after his diagnosis with alpha-1 antitrypsin
   15  deficiency, John W. Walsh waged a national and international
   16  campaign to heighten public awareness of lung disease, including
   17  alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary
   18  disease (COPD), improve patient care, and support efforts to
   19  develop a cure, and
   20         WHEREAS, John W. Walsh founded the Alpha-1 Foundation in
   21  1995 and later established AlphaNet, a nonprofit health
   22  management company to provide services for people with the
   23  deficiency, and
   24         WHEREAS, in 2004, John W. Walsh founded the COPD
   25  Foundation, an international organization dedicated to
   26  education, research, advocacy, and public awareness of COPD, and
   27         WHEREAS, John W. Walsh gave those suffering from COPD and
   28  their families, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and
   29  researchers the gift of hope, and
   30         WHEREAS, thanks to the vision and leadership of John W.
   31  Walsh, the State of Florida Alpha-1 Detection Program has led
   32  the nation in detection of and early intervention in the disease
   33  and in the education of Alpha-1 patients, and
   34         WHEREAS, John W. Walsh, who died in Miami on March 7, 2017,
   35  at the age of 68, was a giant in patient advocacy and was a
   36  devoted husband, father, and grandfather who leaves behind an
   37  enduring legacy of public health service and will be remembered
   38  as a national champion and visionary for a cure for lung
   39  disease, NOW, THEREFORE,
   40  
   41  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   42  
   43         That the members of the Senate extend their heartfelt
   44  sympathy to the family of John W. Walsh.
   45         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   46  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the family of
   47  John W. Walsh as a tangible token of the sentiments of the
   48  Florida Senate.