SR1152 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1152 LRB102 28613 LAW 40496 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald F. "Don" Pickard of Oak Park, who passed away on May 2, 2022 at the age of 86; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard was born to Francis L. and Muriel (Little) Pickard in Rushville on November 25, 1935; he and his brother were raised in Littleton, where their family owned and operated Pickard & Son, Groceries; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard attended Knox College in Galesburg, where he joined the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, served in the ROTC, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa; he also met his future wife, Joan Christiansen, during his college years; upon graduating from Knox College in 1957, they officially married; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard and Joan soon moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he completed his basic training in the U.S. Airborne Infantry Officer's Basic Course; he was elevated to first lieutenant before he moved to Chicago to accept a job with the Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1959; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard utilized his public relations and speech writing skills to his and Illinois Bell's advantage; he was an invaluable asset when the company was broken up by way of a consent decree; ultimately, he became assistant vice president of Ameritech before retiring in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard was passionate about the arts and his faith community; during the 1980s, he was a board member of Chicago's Auditorium Theater; for more than 50 years, he was also a strong presence at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and an elder; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard suffered the loss of his first wife, Joan; healing and time enabled him to choose to remarry in 1983, and his marriage to his second wife, Roylene, lasted 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard enjoyed fishing, swimming in his backyard pool, telling bad jokes, and all things related to his alma mater, Knox College; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard relished spending time with his family and provided advice to anyone who needed it; he was also a master storyteller; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Pickard; his parents; and his stepson, H. James "Jimmy" Murray III; and

WHEREAS, Don Pickard is survived by his children, Sharon Evans (Gary) and Karen Bromley (Kent); his stepchildren, Steven Murray, Cari Kremer (Doug), and Debora Panza; his 14 grandchildren; his two great-grandchildren; his brother, Jack Pickard (Janice); and his seven nieces and nephews; 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 Donald F. "Don" Pickard 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 Don Pickard as an expression of our deepest sympathy.