Bill Text: IL SR0131 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Jon Van.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-03-10 - Resolution Adopted [SR0131 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR0131-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Jon Van, who passed away on July 10,
2019 at the age of 75; and
WHEREAS, Jon Van was born Jon Karl Van Dusseldorp to Karl
and Charlotte Christianson Van Dusseldorp in Des Moines in
1943; he was their only child; he graduated from North Des
Moines High School in 1960, where he was a National Merit
Scholar and played trombone in the marching band; he attended
the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor's degree in
1966 and a master's degree in political science in 1968; he was
a Sigma Chi and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national
leadership honor society; and
WHEREAS, During his college years, Jon Van covered student
unrest at the University of Iowa as a reporter and editor of
the student run newspaper, the Daily Iowan; he was also a
freelance reporter for the Des Moines Register, where he
covered events and city and county governmental news in Iowa
City; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, Jon Van began his career at the Chicago
Tribune as a metro reporter; within a few years, he started
covering science and would often work alongside veteran

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science reporter Ronald Kotulak; and
WHEREAS, Jon Van had an insatiable curiosity about how
things work; he was a multi-talented reporter who covered a
wide range of interests and topics, including Mount Saint
Helens' eruption, space launches, experiments and discoveries
at Fermilab, and the big particle accelerator in Switzerland;
after attending the American Association for Advancement of
Science annual meeting in 1990, he reported on subjects
ranging from carcinogens in food to pigeons or pulsars; in
later years at the Tribune, he covered technology for the
business section that included subjects such as wireless
broadband, nanotechnology, and Illinois' biotech community;
and
WHEREAS, Jon Van used his talent for writing to help
readers understand complex concepts with ease; he was
considered an upbeat subject matter expert and helpful to his
colleagues; he retired from the Tribune in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Jon Van was an avid cyclist who was a member of
the League of American Wheelmen; he commuted from his home in
Oak Park to the Chicago Tribune Tower for many years; he went
on cycling trips through the United States and Europe with his
cycling companions; in 1974, he participated in a 430-mile
trip across Iowa; and

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WHEREAS, Jon Van was known for his quick wit and keen
observations; he loved beer and jazz; he left a final legacy in
his field of interest by donating his body to science; and
WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Jon Van was survived
by his wife, Marsha; his daughters, Kristin Virginia Van and
Lisa Van Pasquesi (Scott); his grandchildren, Anthony Van
Pasquesi, Ryan Scott Pasquesi, and Tea Denise Pasquesi; his
former wife, Denise O'Brien Van; his several cousins; his
colleagues; and his many friends; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Jon Van 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 Jon Van as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.