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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of The Woodlands lost a beloved member |
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of the community with the passing of Mary-Lou Fitch on October 2, |
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2021, at the age of 76; and |
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WHEREAS, Maria-Louisa Knapp Köhler was born in |
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Czechoslovakia on December 22, 1944; she experienced a tumultuous |
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start to her life when her city was invaded by the Red Army and her |
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birth father was killed; after being driven out of the country, her |
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family settled in Germany, where she was raised by her mother and |
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stepfather; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the end of World War II, she immigrated to |
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the United States in 1958 and became a U.S. citizen in 1962; she |
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inherited her passion for community service from her parents, and |
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after learning to play the accordion at age 10, she volunteered to |
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perform music at nursing homes and community centers; she continued |
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her volunteer work while living in upstate New York, where she |
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graduated from college; around that time, she met her future |
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husband, Gary Fitch; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1986, Mr. Fitch's career took the couple to The |
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Woodlands; they built a home in Grogan's Point, and Mrs. Fitch went |
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on to serve the neighborhood during several terms as president of |
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the Grogan's Point Residents Association; over the course of 33 |
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years, she had a hand in establishing many organizations and events |
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in The Woodlands, including Class Act Productions, the Montgomery |
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County Women's Council of Organizations, The Woodlands Holiday Home |
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Tour, and The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra; she also contributed |
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her time and talents to charitable causes such as Montgomery County |
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Youth Services, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, Toys |
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for Tots, and Interfaith of The Woodlands, and she was especially |
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dedicated to bettering the lives of children in need; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, Mrs. Fitch received numerous |
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recognitions, including the First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy |
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Award and the Houston Humanitarian Award, and she was honored with |
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The Woodlands Hometown Hero Award in 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all else, Mrs. Fitch was a loving mother to |
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her four daughters, Marlies, Melissa, Monica, and Michelle, and she |
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took great pride in her treasured grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mary-Lou Fitch made a profound impact on the lives |
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of countless others, and she will forever be remembered with deep |
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admiration and affection by all those who were fortunate enough to |
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know her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary-Lou Fitch and |
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extend sincere sympathy to her family and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary-Lou |
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Fitch. |