WHEREAS, the Village of Park Forest Board of Trustees and Staff pay respects to the family of Doctor Robert A. Jordan; and
Whereas, Robert Jordan was born in Laurel, Mississippi in 1942. After losing a young sister to asthma at the age of 9, he was determined to become a doctor to save the lives of children. When his family moved to Chicago in the mid-1950’s, one of his first jobs was as a helper in the office of a Black physician. Robert was smart and hard-working, but his dream of going to medical school seemed financially beyond reach; and
Whereas, Robert Jordan attended Hyde Park High School, where he was introduced to Jeanette Bass, who would soon become the love of his life. They were married in July 1962 and enjoyed a wonderful marriage that spanned 61 years; and
Whereas, Robert and his wife worked for the U.S. Post Office. While doing so, and raising a family, he pursued his education toward admission to medical school. He went on to obtain a degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and then graduated from Rush Medical College in1976; and
Whereas, in 1979, Dr. Robert Jordan became Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital’s first Black Chief Resident of Pediatrics. He was then the first Black Physician ever named as Chief Resident in the history of the medical school. His mission was to provide families access to comprehensive healthcare. He was trained to meet the unique needs of children through all their developmental stages; and
Whereas, Dr. Jordan practiced medicine for more than three decades on Chicago’s south side, in Homewood, Olympia Fields, and Chicago Heights. No visit to Dr. Jordan was routine. He spent time with his patients getting to know their medical and life needs. He could be counted on to show up at the hospital day or night; and
Whereas, He was affiliated with multiple hospitals and several different nursing homes. He gave back to medical students, physician assistants and medical assistants by allowing them exposure to his busy offices. Dr. Jordan also gave back to his community in so many meaningful ways. This included establishing the Far South Side Community Health Center, serving as a summer camp physician for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois, and service as a deacon with his church before being installed as an elder; and
Whereas, in his home life Dr. Jordan was an excellent cook and expert gardener while enjoying golf and recreational travel.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Village of Park Forest, Cook and Will Counties, do hereby proclaim to the family of Dr. Robert Jordan that we know your loss is deep and your sorrow is great. We want you to know that we share in your sorrow. More importantly, we recognize that this loss is Heaven’s Gain. Humbly submitted by the Village of Park Forest and PROCLAIMED on this 15th day of August 2023.
Joseph A. Woods, Mayor