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SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Donald J. Dalton of Naperville, who 
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passed away on November 2, 2009; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton was born on June 2, 1943, in St. 
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Charles; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In July of 1969, Donald Dalton was injured in a 
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diving accident and was permanently paralyzed from the neck 
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down; instead of sulking over what could have been, he decided 
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to go forward and learn as much as he could about computers and 
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technology for the disabled; with the help of a counselor from 
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the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, he was able 
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to overcome his disability as it related to working and 
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continuing his life; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Over the past 17 years, Donald Dalton has 
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developed a reputation as an internationally-recognized 
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assistive technology expert; in May of 2002, he was invited to 
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China by a group of medical professionals to help teach them 
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about assistive technology for their newly developing national 
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rehabilitation system; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton served as President of Assistive 
 


 






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Technologies, Inc.; he and his associates have been featured in 
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a 4,000 word story about his company on the front page of the 
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Wall Street journal; he served as a member of the board of 
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directors for Chicago's "Joni and friends" area ministry; he 
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was a developing partner in Independence One, an environmental 
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control solution; he was a former member of the Board of 
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Trustees of Equip for Equality in Chicago, the American Legion, 
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and the VFW; he was a former City of Naperville Fire Department 
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volunteer; he was also a former ham radio operator for the City 
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of Naperville; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton and his company have been the 
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subjects of articles in Wired Magazine, Cranes Chicago 
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Business, the Chicago Sun-Times, DuPage Financial, and the 
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Chicago Tribune, and stories on CNN, NBC, Fox, and the USA 
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Network; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton was the Illinois State 1994 winner 
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of the Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award; he was nominated 
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for the Emerging Entrepreneur Award by the DuPage Area 
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Association in 1994 and 1995; in 2008, he and his company were 
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individually nominated for New Freedom Awards; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton was a former drummer for the 
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Maybees, a nationally-recognized rock and roll band; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton was preceded in death by his 
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parents, James and Catherine Dalton, and his siblings, Thomas 
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and James Dalton, Ann Safranski, Patricia McGrath, and Theresa 
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Friedl; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Dalton is survived by his wife, Helen (nee 
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Zarko); his son, Thomas (Dawn) Dalton; his grandchildren, Eva, 
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Mia, Abby, and Liam Dalton; and his many nieces, nephews, 
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cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Donald J. Dalton; and be 
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it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Donald Dalton as an expression of 
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our sympathy.