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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Donald R. Fennell 
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of West Beverly on June 29, 2004; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Fennell was born in Evergreen Park and grew 
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up in Chicago; he attended both Little Flower Grammar School 
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and High School; shortly after graduation, he joined the Army 
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for a two-year stint; in 1973, he graduated from Quincy College 
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with a degree in sociology and later received a computer 
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certificate from DePaul University; it was at Quincy College 
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where he met his wife, Catherine Loftus; and

 
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    WHEREAS, When he wasn't attending grade school and high 
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school sporting events, Mr. Fennell used to savor moments at 
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his summer home on Flint Lake in Valparaiso, Indiana; he would 
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always reminisce about the times he had up at the lake, where 
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he had been going since he was a boy and where his extended 
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family owns a dozen cottages; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Fennell worked briefly as a teacher in the 
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Chicago Public schools system; when his father died in 1975, he 
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became the owner of the family business, Skokie Valley 
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Products, distributing shortening and margarine to Chicago 
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area restaurants until 1986 when he left the company to pursue 
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his nearly two-decade career at the Chicago Board of Trade; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Fennell  landed in the computer department of a 
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Chicago commodities firm at the Chicago Board of Trade that is 
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now the First Futures division of REFCO Group Ltd., LLC, and 
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eventually became vice president of client services; and

 

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    WHEREAS, The passing of Donald R. Fennell will be deeply 
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felt by many, especially his wife, Catherine "Cathy"; his 
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daughter, Mary Kate; his sons, Matthew and Michael Fennell; his 
 


 






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brothers, Thomas (Sue) and Mark (Susan); his sister,  Mame 
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(Thomas) Byrne; his in-law's Peg Klug, Joseph (Kathleen) 
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Loftus, Mary (Daniel) Houlihan, Charles (Susan) Loftus,  and 
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James Loftus; and his many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Donald R. Fennell along with all who knew and loved him and 
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extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Donald R. Fennell as an expression 
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of our deepest sympathy.