SR1545LRB101 23054 ECR 74181 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Robert Hellenga of Galesburg, who passed 
4away on July 18, 2020 at the age of 78; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Hellenga was born to Ted and Marjorie 
6Hellenga in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 5, 1941; a member of 
7Phi Beta Kappa, he graduated with a bachelor's degree from the 
8University of Michigan in 1963 and then earned a doctorate from 
9Princeton University in 1969; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Robert Hellenga began his tenure as a professor of 
11English at Knox University in Galesburg in 1968;  he shared his 
12knowledge and expertise at the university for over fifty years; 
13he was a teacher and mentor to generations of writing students, 
14including Senate President Don Harmon; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Robert Hellenga received recognition for his 
16outstanding work at Knox College as a George Appleton Lawrence 
17Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of English and a 
18Distinguished Writer In-Residence; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS,  Robert Hellenga was an award-winning author of 
20multiple critically-acclaimed novels, including The Fall of a 
21Sparrow (which won awards for Best Fiction from Publishers 
 
 
SR1545- 2 -LRB101 23054 ECR 74181 r

1Weekly and The Los Angeles Times), Philosophy Made Simple, The 
2Italian Lover, Snakewoman of Little Egypt (selected as one of 
3the best books of 2010 by the Kirkus Review and The Washington 
4Post), The Confessions of Frances Godwin, The Truth About Death 
5and Other Stories, Love, Death, and Rare Books, and The Sixteen 
6Pleasures; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Robert Hellenga was a loving father to his three 
8daughters, Rachel, Heather, and Catrine, and husband to 
9Marjorie Hellenga; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12Robert Hellenga and extend our sincere condolences to his 
13family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
14further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to the family of Robert Hellenga as an expression of 
17our deepest sympathy.