SR0634 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0634 LRB100 13203 MAS 27613 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Philip Bader Elfstrom of Batavia, who passed away on May 28, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom was born in Evanston to Philip R. Elfstrom and Iras (Bader) Elfstrom on July 14, 1928; he attended high school in Wheaton and was a star football player at the University of Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom opened Bader Publishing, a print shop at the corner of Main Street and Batavia Avenue; he also operated the first art gallery in Batavia, where local artists could exhibit their works; and

WHEREAS, In 1969, Philip Elfstrom was elected assistant township supervisor and became a member of the Kane County Board; he became chairman of the Kane County Board and held that position from 1971 to 1982; he then moved to the Forest Preserve Commission and was elected district president; he later worked for the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C., where he was an advisor to President Ronald Reagan; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom had the vision and imagination to make things happen during his time in politics; he envisioned bike trails instead of abandoned railroad tracks along the Fox River; he arranged to have the Fabyan Parkway Bridge constructed when a new bridge over the Fox River was needed; he was also responsible for the development of Settler's Hill Golf Course and the acquisition of the Kane County Government Center property; he was the person most responsible for bringing minor league baseball to Kane County and Elfstrom Stadium was named in his honor; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom was responsible for the beautification of South Batavia Avenue when he planted trees and flowers along the Avenue and personally took the responsibility to water the trees and flowers; he also worked on the restoration of many downtown buildings by creating the Batavia Downtowners, an organization set up by himself and other downtown business owners in the 1970s to bring new life to the business section of Batavia; he restored five of his own 19th century buildings along River Street, including an old dairy where he lived on the upper floor; his upper apartment became a gathering place for his annual canoe race parties on his large deck above the Fox River; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom was named Citizen of the Year by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce in 1982, and in 1985 helped to fund a scholarship to benefit students and further their dreams of a college education; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom leaves a legacy benefitting everyone in Batavia and all of Kane County and will be greatly missed by many; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Frank McGuigan; his niece, Kathryne McGuigan Sheldon; his long time dear companion, Peg Bond; and many close friends; and

WHEREAS, Philip Elfstrom is survived by his loving sister, Kathryne Margaret McGuigan; his nephew, Frank "Sandy" McGuigan; his dear friends, Cathy Youssi Searl, Terry and Jan Bond, and Josh Bond, all of whom were like family; his long time secretary and good friend, Bobette Keasler; and his good friends, Eldon Frydendall and Mayor Jeffery Schielke; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Philip Bader Elfstrom, 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 Philip Elfstrom as an expression of our deepest sympathy.