SR0616 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0616 LRB095 20572 KXB 48577 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Carl Mellen of Lake Forest, who passed away on January 27, 2008 while sailing in the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carl Mellen was born in Toledo, Ohio on November 7, 1937, to Carl E. Mellen and Mildred (Wishard) Mellen; and

WHEREAS, His family moved to Waukegan in 1938, and he went to Greenwood Grade School and Lake Forest Academy; he then attended Stanford University and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics; while at Stanford he was a loyal member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity; after Stanford he served in the United States Army as a combat infantry second lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, In 1960, he began working for USF&G Insurance Company in Nashville, Tennessee as an underwriter; in February, 1962, he joined his father at his own insurance agency, Carl E. Mellen and Co.; in 1975, his father retired and Richard took over as president and owner of the agency; and

WHEREAS, He was involved with YMCA's Camp Jorn in Wisconsin, helping children who would not otherwise be able to attend the camp; the Mellen Horse Arena at the camp is named after him; Richard was dedicated to his home town of Waukegan where he was one of the founders of the Genesee Theatre; he was a life member of the Waukegan Yacht Club, joining in 1978, where he kept his boat "Nightwind"; Richard was also a member of Glen Flora Country Club, City Club, and Knollwood Club, where he won the Governors' Cup Golf Championship; his memberships in these clubs made him many lifelong friends; and

WHEREAS, Richard Mellen was very active in the North Chicago Rotary Club, serving as President for two terms; he was a tenure member, joining in 1969 and he served on many committees; he enjoyed the game of golf and he loved to ski, fish, and collect cars; in 1995 he was able to have his dream boat "Pegasus" built, which was docked in St. Lucia where he enjoyed sailing the beautiful islands; Richard's memory will long live with many whom he considered his "family"; among those are his fiancée, Kimberly Layden, Julie Guerin, who was a lifelong friend of the Mellen family and devoted employee for over 50 years, and all of his loyal office staff who remain at Carl E. Mellen and Co. Insurance; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mildred Mellen, and his Aunt Mary (Wishard); and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his fiancée, Kimberly Layden; 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 Richard Carl Mellen; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Richard Mellen as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.