SR0593 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0593 LRB103 35278 LAW 65305 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Spencer Adrian Tyson of Oak Park, who passed away on April 11, 2023 at the age of 82; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson was born to Mary Frances (Hinton) and Claude Lemon Tyson in Alton on December 31, 1940; he was raised in the Dogtown neighborhood of Alton, and he spent summers visiting family in Forrest City, Arkansas; he began his freshman year at Alton Senior High School, but he graduated in San Diego, California while simultaneously serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; during his military service, he traveled to Okinawa, Japan, where he established friendships crossing cultural and racial lines; and

WHEREAS, After being honorably discharged, Spencer Tyson enrolled as a student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville; he worked two jobs prior to his commencement in 1969; he married classmate Lois Lee Granger; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson was a salesperson at Equitable Life Insurance Company when he and his wife welcomed two daughters, Kimberly Idean and Nicole Adrian; shortly after Nicole's birth in 1973, he and the family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia so he could accept a promotion with Equitable as one of the first African-American men to attain the title of department vice president; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson moved his family back to Alton for access to behavioral therapy when his daughter Nicole was diagnosed with autism at the age of two; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson continued to travel for work assignments and ultimately made Oak Park the family's permanent home; he was motivated to obtain a graduate degree in business due to job security concerns, which allowed him to become a pensions analyst; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson and his wife helped expand the local social service network by creating a vocational program for an autism-focused group called Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow (PACTT), with their daughter Nicole becoming the first vocational program enrollee; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson faced severe injuries in 2002, but his recovery process was accompanied by a gregarious personality change, including a blossoming of his sense of humor and newfound enjoyment in family gatherings; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson experienced a surprise cancer diagnosis in 2013, and his will to survive this diagnosis was reinforced by his promise to walk his daughter Kimberly down the aisle at her wedding; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson struggled with his faith throughout his life, especially during times of trial and tribulation, which included several major health challenges; eventually, he adopted a more conciliatory stance towards religion and church participation; through it all, his wife and two daughters were constant sources of fulfillment, inspiration, and pride; and

WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson was a music connoisseur, specifically jazz and classical; he also read voraciously and stayed attuned to politics; and

WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Spencer Tyson was survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Lois; his daughters, Kimberly and Nicole; his son-in-law, Nathan Goldbaum; and a host of family and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Spencer Adrian Tyson and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Spencer Tyson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.