Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0569

HR0569 LRB104 16588 LAW 29987 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former Village President Ronald "Ron" Bean of Park Forest, who passed away in November 2025; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean, the son of William and Camilla Bean, was born in Chicago on March 1943; he was raised with the quiet determination of an individual called to purpose, shaped by the values of his parents; he earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean began a legal career that became a springboard for civic transformation; after moving to the Village of Park Forest in 1969, he made history after being elected the first Black village trustee and ultimately its first Black village president, a position he held from 1981 to 1986; he guided Park Forest during a pivotal era when the village became one of the nation's first successfully integrated communities, and his tenure was marked by bold initiatives and a belief that communities thrive through collaboration; he championed the redevelopment of Norwood and Blackhawk Centers, advanced early Tax Increment Financing strategies, and helped launch ventures that broadened the village's cultural and social fabric; he also oversaw the establishment of the professional Park Forest Symphony, later known as the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, along with the senior citizen community Garden House and the PIZZAZZ festival, a celebration of the village's diversity and creativity; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean's influence extended far beyond Park Forest; he served as executive director of the Illinois Development Finance Authority for 15 years, overseeing the issuance of billions in bonds that spurred statewide economic development and job creation; his leadership later proved indispensable at the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), where he guided the organization through a fiscal restructuring that strengthened its capacity to serve families in need; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean consistently championed educational excellence throughout his life; he became president of Southland College Preparatory Charter High School Board of Directors in 2010, helping build it from the ground up into the top-performing charter high school in Illinois; he also served as president of the SPEED SEJA District 802 Governing Board, spearheading the modernization of its special education facilities to promote life skills, independence, and dignity for students with diverse needs; he served on the Matteson School District 162 Board for more than 30 years, most recently as president; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean was a consummate servant leader and lent his expertise to numerous boards, including the Bank of Matteson, the Great Lakes Bank, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Goodman Theatre, the PACE Advisory Board, and the Governors State University (GSU) Foundation; he became the namesake of the Ronald Bean Community Service Scholarship at GSU, a scholarship established in 2009 by his wife, Dr. Sharon G. Bean, to nurture the next generation of public servants and honor students whose dedication to community mirrored his own; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean was a pioneering public servant guided by an unshakable faith, a profound sense of duty, a vision of equity, and a belief that communities rise highest when they rise together; whether navigating complex policy decisions or consoling a community member in hardship, he carried himself with humility, patience, and a certainty that he was guided by a higher purpose; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean carved a legacy defined not by titles nor accolades but by the countless lives his service strengthened and uplifted; he leaves behind a region shaped by his vision, a family fortified by his love, and a legacy that will continue to guide all who believe in service as a way of life; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Camilla Smith; and

WHEREAS, Ron Bean is survived by his wife, Dr. Sharon G. Bean; his children, Ronald (Erin) Bean, Karmen Green, Jerold (Jennifer) Bean, Mia (Johnny) Mullins, and Pilar (Brandon) Summerville; their grandchildren, Marlee, Maci, Kayla, Morgan, Myles, Jahlil, Justin, Jade, Zarah, and Braxton; his siblings, William Bean, Birdette (Tom) Terry, and Linda Manning; and his niece, Diedra; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former Village President Ronald "Ron" Bean of Park Forest 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 Ron Bean as an expression of our deepest sympathy.