SR1100 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1100 LRB096 24601 KXB 44436 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Betty Van Wyk of Oak Park, who passed away on November 14, 2010; and

WHEREAS, She was a journalism graduate of Hope College; she taught high school in Normal before returning to Chicago, where she was born in 1939; moving to Oak Park, she became a reporter for Pioneer Press, handling the education beat for the Oak Leaves; and

WHEREAS Running as an independent, she was elected to serve on the Oak Park Township board as a trustee, 1981 to 1985, and as township clerk, 1985 to 1997; her knowledge of the community and public relations skills led to her appointment as communications director for Oak Park and River Forest High School, where she also became advisor to Tau Gamma, a girls' service organization; in this role, she assisted many young women in giving back to the community; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, she began a career as a certified financial planner until her retirement in 2005; in retirement, she volunteered to give financial advice to residents through Township Senior Services; her legendary baklava, learned from a Greek chef on her first trip abroad in the 1950s, was a hallmark of many gatherings in the village; she annually participated in providing and delivering gift baskets and dinners through the Food Pantry for the holidays; and

WHEREAS, She worked tirelessly for the Oak Park chapter of Zonta International and offered financial planning insights to the organization through service on its local and national boards; she participated in choosing the most promising young woman to receive a scholarship in the chapter's annual Young Woman in Public Affairs program; she was a frequent and gracious hostess for Zonta gatherings at her home in the summers, and hosted a chapter-sponsored student from Estonia, who lived with her the entire year she studied at Dominican University; and

WHEREAS, She was a valued supporter of the Oak Park Conservatory and helped with fundraisers; as an apartment building owner, she supported the Oak Park Housing Center; she was a member of Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation; and

WHEREAS, Betty Van Wyk was preceded in death by her parents, Lou and Val Vicha; and her niece, Kathi Ogle; and

WHEREAS, Betty Van Wyk is survived by her son, Mark (Linda and granddaughter Lily Lin) and her daughter, Laura (Bob); her sister and traveling companion, Diane Ogle; her nephews, Kevin (Lori) and Rob Ogle; her Aunt Grace Vicha; her cousins, Eric and Jean Topinka, Vicki Erickson (Tony), Don (Jesse) Vicha, Roger, and Wayne Vicha; and neighbors and friends in every corner of the world; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Betty Van Wyk; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Betty Van Wyk as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.