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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Robert Scott Fuller, who passed away on
4September 13, 2019 at the age of 83; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller was born on February 12, 1936 to
6Lillian Faye and William Pope Fuller in Searcy, Arkansas and
7was lovingly referred to as "Bobby Scott" until his college
8years; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller graduated from Searcy High School in
101954 and Hendrix College in 1958; he then earned a Master of
11Arts from Union Theological Seminary in New York City; he
12attended Julliard School of Music, where he studied under
13Israeli-born composer Abraham Kaplan; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller had many notable achievements while
15in New York, including serving as assistant director of the
16Collegiate Chorale at Julliard and performing in the Chorale at
17Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra with
18Leonard Bernstein as conductor; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller was an accomplished pianist and
20choral director; he took those talents to Jonesboro High School
21in Arkansas, where he taught choral music for 14 years; he also

 

 

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1served as choral director for First United Methodist Church and
2First Baptist Church; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller taught summer courses at Southern
4Illinois University and then accepted a job as choral director
5at Oak Park and River Forest High School; he later became
6director of the Fine Arts Department until his retirement; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller founded the Heritage Chorale, a
8community choir for adults that continues his legacy; he served
9as a past-president of the Arkansas Choral Directors
10Association and the Illinois Chorale Directors Association;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller and his wife took choirs from
13Jonesboro and OPRF on a performances tour to Europe every two
14years; the group would always tour Vienna, Austria, his
15favorite city; he and his wife would return to Vienna as often
16as possible, independently of the choir; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller walked with crutches after
18contracting polio as a 10th-grade student in 1951; however, he
19never let his physical handicap stop him; he was a passionate
20gardener, fisherman, and carpenter; his musical knowledge and
21ability drew interest to his classes, but students stayed
22because of his playful sense of humor and kindness; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller had such a lasting impact on his
2students that a reunion performance named Fuller Fest was
3organized in his honor; students travelled from all around the
4country to participate in a weekend-long event that culminated
5in a benefit concert; a scholarship dedicated to him has since
6been established to honor the beloved teacher and mentor that
7he was; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller was preceded in death by his parents
9and his infant twin siblings; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Robert Fuller is survived by his wife, Anita Hart
11Fuller; his children, Christopher Scott (Tina) Fuller and Karen
12Harrison Fuller; his grandchildren, Madison Fuller (Jonathan)
13Turner, Kennedy Blaise Keasler, Harrison Quinn Keasler, Zac
14Morgan, and Rheanna Morgan; his brother, Bill (Cheryl) Fuller;
15and his sister, Ruth Ann Fuller; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18Robert Fuller and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
19friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to the family of Robert Fuller as an expression of

 

 

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1our deepest sympathy.