SR0524 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0524 LRB095 17778 KXB 43857 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Melvin E. "Mel" Dunn of Marco Island, Florida, formerly of Geneva, who passed away on January 7, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Dunn was born October 31, 1933, in Chicago; he was orphaned at age six and was raised by various relatives; he attended St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School, Quigley South Seminary, Hyde Park High School, the University of Illinois at Navy Pier, Roosevelt University and Kent Law School; after serving with the Coast Guard during the Korean War he earned a living as a salesman and eventually launched his own private investigation agency where his quick wit and street-wise savvy made him the preferred P.I. of several top law firms; and

WHEREAS, Following graduation from Kent Law School in 1971, he was employed by a respected Chicago law firm and became the chief investigator for the Illinois Attorney General's Fraud Division; in 1972, Mel was united in marriage to Judith Wilkinson Vester; and

WHEREAS, He opened his own law firm and soon a dream come true when in 1982 he became a judge; he was a diligent volunteer for Mutual Ground, Aurora; he and his wife hosted many foreign exchange students and opened their home to many other children; he taught paralegal classes at Elgin Community College and was a much sought after guest speaker for many community causes and events; in 1986 he ran a hotly contested campaign for a seat as a Circuit Judge and won by a large margin; the motto of his campaign, "Let Justice be Dunn" became the credo of his judicial career; in addition to working in all the courts the Sixteenth Judicial District, he was Chief of the Family Law Division and the Chancery Division; and

WHEREAS, In 1998, Mel retired from the bench; in 2001, he and Jude moved to the present family home on Marco Island, Florida; he was a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a member of the Family Law Council of the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Kane County Bar Association; he was a founder of the Elburn Business Council, a member of the Elburn Lion's Club, and parade chairman of the Elburn Days Parade; he was an enthusiastic member of the Marco Lutheran Church, the church choir, and the Marco Men's Club; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Dunn is survived by his wife, Jude; his daughters, Lori (Michael) Dunn-Reier and Andrea (Brian) Johanson; his sons, Rick (Toni Keller) Vester, Jonathan (Judy Johns) Vester, and G. Adam (Tina Schuck) Vester; his thirteen grandchildren, Lori's: Jessica (Eric) Staponkus and Malia and Briana; Rick's: Ryan and Sarah; Jonathan's: David Vester, Heather Johns and Matthew Johns; Adam's: Kylie Vester; Andrea's: Luke, Abbie, Noah, Nehemiah; his three great-grandchildren, Jessica's: Elise and Alex; Heather's: Kaylee; his three former foreign exchanges students who remain like sons and daughters, Christina "Nina" (Dr. Gerhardt) Fliedner, Lars (Susanne) Johanhage, and Christian (Claudia) Schmaus; his two half-sisters, Jane Dunn and "Wish" (Greg) Sims; his many nieces and nephews; his brother-in-law, Richard "Dick" (fiancée: Yvonne Crane) Wilkinson; and a "family of friends" across the country and around the world; he is preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Robert and R. Adele Wilkinson; his two sisters-in-law, Lillian Wilkinson and Judy Kelly; and his two brothers-in-law, Robert Wilkinson Jr. and Roger Wilkinson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Melvin E. "Mel" Dunn; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Melvin E. "Mel" Dunn as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.