SR1383 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1383 LRB100 20347 MST 35635 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Albert Lyle Van Ness, M.D., F.A.C.P., who passed away on February 1, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness was born in Scottdale, Pennsylvania to Augustus Lyle and Alleice Thomas Van Ness on January 5, 1926; he relocated to his father's hometown of Bloomington in 1930 and graduated from Bloomington High School in 1944; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July of 1944; he was admitted to the Navy V-12 program and attended John Carroll University until his discharge in November of 1945; he graduated from Indiana University in 1947, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity; in 1951, he graduated third in his class from the Indiana University School of Medicine and was a proud member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Scholastic Medical Society; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness married Julia Beeson on June 9, 1951 and they resided in Chicago while he completed his internship at the University of Chicago; he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and served in Korea until 1954; he was attached to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Suwon, Korea and was discharged as a captain and commander of the 502nd U.S.A.F. Medical Group in 1954; he then completed his residency at the University of Chicago in internal medicine; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness returned to Bloomington in 1957 and entered private practice; in 1960, he joined State Farm as an assistant medical director; in 1964, he became the medical director at State Farm, a position he held for 25 years; in April of 1966, he was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Physicians; shortly thereafter, he returned to private practice while remaining at State Farm; in 1971, he co-founded Medical Hills, which continues to provide quality medical services to the residents of McLean County and beyond; he became a vice president at State Farm in 1970; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness was active in many professional, academic, and civic organizations; he served on, and eventually chaired, the Bloomington Planning and Zoning Commission from 1964 to 1969; in 1972, he started as a clinical associate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine; he served as a clinical instructor from 1979 to 1990; he was the chief of the Brokaw Hospital Staff in 1973 and 1974; he was a councilor for the Illinois Chapter of the American College of Physicians from 1984 to 1990; he was awarded the 1989 Marion Laboratories Clinical Laureate Award for outstanding contributions in the field of internal medicine; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after his retirement from State Farm, Dr. Van Ness started his unintended second medical career; he obtained a North Carolina medical license, then added ones in Arizona, Indiana, and Maine; he continued to see patients for the next 11 years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness was a "walking encyclopedia"; he enjoyed working on cars, home repairs, refinishing furniture, telling jokes, visiting museums and art galleries, duck hunting at Mound Lake, fishing in the Arctic Circle, and reading about the universe; he also enjoyed dining at the Seafood Club and playing cards with the Wednesday night poker group; he and his wife enjoyed traveling the world together; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Judy; his parents; and his sister, Maryellen (Richard) Seniff; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Ness is survived by his children, Paul Beeson Van Ness, Stephanie (David) Meara, Jonathan Lyle Van Ness, and Julia Carol Van Ness; his grandchildren, Dr. Michael Paul (Dr. Alexa) Meara, Dr. Meredith Colleen (Chad) Duke, John David (Kelly) Meara, Thomas Lyle (Lesley) Van Ness, Benjamin Beeson (Amanda) Van Ness, and Jonathan MacDonald Van Ness; and 10 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Albert Lyle Van Ness, M.D., F.A.C.P., 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 Dr. Van Ness as an expression of our deepest sympathy.