Bill Text: IL SR0110 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Robert Carl "Bob" Ericksen.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-06 - Referred to Resolutions Consent Calendar [SR0110 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SR0110-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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.