SR0821 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0821 LRB104 22130 LAW 38325 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Bruce "Bob" Lyons, who passed away on May 7, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lyons was born to Patrick B. Lyons and Margie Franklin Lyons in Oak Park on September 18, 1938; he graduated from J. Sterling Morton High School, and he earned his Bachelor of Science in History and a master's degree from Northern Illinois University; he served in the United States Air Force in the late 1950s and early 1960s, being called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis; he married Nancy Kaminski, and they bought their first home in Hoffman Estates, where they lived for 54 years; six years ago, they moved to Friendship Village, now known as Encore Village, where he shared his knowledge of politics as a regular contributor to the weekly Current Events program; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lyons was a high school teacher at Barrington, Conant, and Hoffman Estates high schools for 32 years, and he chaired the Social Science Department for 22 years; during his 30-year career at Hoffman Estates High School, he coached girls and boys cross country; he was a member of Local 1211 of the Northwestern Suburban Teachers Union; in retirement, he served on the Illinois Teachers Retirement System Pension Board for 12 years, through which he kept teachers informed about their retirement funds and visited retired teacher groups throughout Northern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lyons, in his spare time, served on the Schaumburg Township District Library Board from 1969 to 2013; during his 44-year tenure, he helped guide the library through an era of extraordinary growth, innovation, and community service; he also served as a member of the team that built the new library, overseeing Schaumburg Township District Library transforming into one of the State's largest and most respected public libraries; his service earned him numerous honors, including the Illinois Library Association Trustee Citation Award in 2002 and the American Library Association Trustee Citation Award in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lyons was always an avid reader of books, especially alternative history, the Civil War, and thrillers, passing his love of reading onto his children; he also enjoyed keeping in touch with family, friends, and former student-athletes through letters, cards, emails, and Facebook; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lyons was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Patrick Lyons; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lyons is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nancy Kaminski Lyons; his children, Mike S. (Doreen) Lyons, John P. Lyons, and Mary C. Lyons; two granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert Bruce "Bob" Lyons 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 Bob Lyons as an expression of our deepest sympathy.