SR0633 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0633 LRB093 22773 KEF 52567 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Donald R. Fennell of West Beverly on June 29, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Donald Fennell was born in Evergreen Park and grew up in Chicago; he attended both Little Flower Grammar School and High School; shortly after graduation, he joined the Army for a two-year stint; in 1973, he graduated from Quincy College with a degree in sociology and later received a computer certificate from DePaul University; it was at Quincy College where he met his wife, Catherine Loftus; and

WHEREAS, When he wasn't attending grade school and high school sporting events, Mr. Fennell used to savor moments at his summer home on Flint Lake in Valparaiso, Indiana; he would always reminisce about the times he had up at the lake, where he had been going since he was a boy and where his extended family owns a dozen cottages; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Fennell worked briefly as a teacher in the Chicago Public schools system; when his father died in 1975, he became the owner of the family business, Skokie Valley Products, distributing shortening and margarine to Chicago area restaurants until 1986 when he left the company to pursue his nearly two-decade career at the Chicago Board of Trade; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Fennell landed in the computer department of a Chicago commodities firm at the Chicago Board of Trade that is now the First Futures division of REFCO Group Ltd., LLC, and eventually became vice president of client services; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Donald R. Fennell will be deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Catherine "Cathy"; his daughter, Mary Kate; his sons, Matthew and Michael Fennell; his brothers, Thomas (Sue) and Mark (Susan); his sister, Mame (Thomas) Byrne; his in-law's Peg Klug, Joseph (Kathleen) Loftus, Mary (Daniel) Houlihan, Charles (Susan) Loftus, and James Loftus; and his many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald R. Fennell along with all who knew and loved him and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it further

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