SR0110 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0110 LRB104 12055 ECR 22150 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Carl "Bob" Ericksen, who passed away on January 29, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen was born to Helen and Carl Ericksen outside of Seattle, Washington on September 17, 1941; he spent his childhood exploring the woods and other places of nature; he worked various odd jobs in pursuit of his education, and he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Washington and his Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Metal Smithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he also met his wife, Joan; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen taught in the art department of Everett Community College in Everett, Washington, in the humanities department of City Colleges of Chicago, and in the art department of Eureka College; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s and 1970s, Bob Ericksen and his wife organized on the South Side of Chicago, where they worked alongside activists, educators, and storytellers to create opportunities for communities too often overlooked; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen and his wife had a passion for storytelling and cultural preservation, which led them to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana where they worked to document and share the rich traditions of the Blackfeet Nation; through photography, film, and advocacy, they helped ensure that the voices of the Blackfeet people were preserved and heard, and they created the documentary The Sun Gave Man the Power; and

WHEREAS, In their work, Bob Ericksen and his wife were inspired by some of the most brilliant minds of their time; they collaborated with many, including R. Buckminster Fuller, and were regular guests on the Studs Terkel radio show; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen and his wife founded The Sun Foundation in 1973 to serve as a sanctuary for creativity, science, and conservation; thousands of children and artists found their place in the world through programs offered by the Foundation, including Art & Science in the Woods and the Clean Water Celebration; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen had a keen eye for line and color, exploring photography, painting, metallurgy, and printing; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen was a force of nature, an artist, an educator, an activist, a visionary, and a man who turned laughter into an art form; he not only created and taught but always had to know how everything worked; he had a great reverence for his tools and believed that every problem had a solution, often finding or making the perfect tool for the job; and

WHEREAS, Bob Ericksen is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan; his son, Brett Root Ericksen; his brother, Ron (Joanne) Ericksen; his nephew, Dean (Mary) Ericksen; and his great-niece and great-nephew, Althea Ericksen and August Ericksen; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert Carl "Bob" Ericksen 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 Bob Ericksen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.