John Edward "Jack" Bresch died Sept. 1.
He served on CHA's advocacy team for 17 years before departing as the association's director of legislative affairs in 2000. In a resolution issued at the time of his departure, the CHA board credited Bresch with a "passion for the ministry" and said he "helped position CHA as a recognized and important player in the national health care reform debate."
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bresch was a priest and navy chaplain. He served in the Marines. He subsequently served as legislative assistant and staff director for two U.S. representatives and then held a position in the Carter administration. Prior to joining CHA, Bresch was director of federal government affairs for the Illinois Hospital Association in Naperville.
At CHA, he lobbied for health care reform and managed member task forces that produced milestone documents on health care rationing and on a framework for health reform.
After departing CHA, Bresch joined the American Dental Education Association, where he most recently was associate executive director and director of the center for public policy and advocacy.