SR0236 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0236 LRB102 18157 MST 25626 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John G. Vanko of St. Charles, who passed away on April 12, 2021; and

WHEREAS, John Vanko was born in Streator to John and Louise (Rezen) Vanko in 1937; he graduated from Streator High School in 1955, where he was a standout basketball player and held the school scoring record for 10 years; he declined a tryout with the Chicago White Sox farm team and attended Western Illinois University on a basketball scholarship, where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1959 and his Master of Science in 1960; he earned his Doctor of Education from Loyola University in 1973; and

WHEREAS, John Vanko taught history and mathematics and then later served as a counselor, dean, assistant principal, and principal at Joliet West High School; he became the Associate Superintendent for Community Unit School District 303 in St. Charles before assuming the position of Superintendent in 1991; and

WHEREAS, Under John Vanko's leadership, St. Charles High School received the 1994-1996 Blue Ribbon Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education; as Superintendent, he was instrumental in helping pass a $44 million referendum to build Wredling Middle School and a ninth grade building on the Dunham Campus at St. Charles High School; and

WHEREAS, John Vanko retired in 1996 and joined Aurora University, where he taught graduate level education classes and coordinated the administrative internship program for the training of future school administrators; he taught for 13 years at Aurora University and retired in 2008 as Associate Professor Emeritus at the College of Education; and

WHEREAS, John Vanko was involved in many community activities; he served on the Delnor Community Hospital Board of Directors for 10 years and volunteered his time with the United Way, the Rotary Club of St. Charles, where he served as President, and with youth sports organizations; and

WHEREAS, John Vanko was avid golfer and celebrated four holes-in-one and, in one of his last rounds, shot his age of 81; he traveled extensively throughout Europe with Martha many times, including golf trips to Scotland and Ireland; he treasured memories of many other European travels, where he enjoyed local culture, cuisine, and architecture, as well as visits to basilicas, cathedrals, and museums; he was a frequent patron of sporting events, the Lyric Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and

WHEREAS, John Vanko is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha (Pickerill) Vanko; his children, Kimberly Millet and Kenneth (Karyn) Vanko; his brother, Richard (Nancy) Vanko; his grandchildren, Austin Millet, Ross (Noriko) Millet, York Millet, Langdon Vanko, and Lincoln Vanko; and his great-grandson, Orson Millet; 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 John G. Vanko 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 John Vanko as an expression of our deepest sympathy.