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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John Edward Severns of Champaign, who
4passed away on April 3, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Severns was born in Chicago to Clifford and
6Maude (Thompson) Severns on October 21, 1926; he graduated from
7Hyde Park High School in 1944; he enlisted in the United States
8Army and was assigned to calculate weapons trajectories for the
9189th Field Artillery Battalion; he later attended the
10University of Illinois and earned his undergraduate and
11master's degrees in architecture; he married Joan Zagar in
121952; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In 1953, John Severns was awarded the Illinois
14School of Architecture's Francis J. Plym Traveling Fellowship;
15he and Joan spent nine months driving all over Europe, studying
16architecture and having adventures; in 1958, he became a
17partner in a Champaign architectural firm that specialized in
18educational buildings; he leaves a legacy at the University of
19Illinois as an early campus planner; his firm was responsible
20for the design of most of the early residence halls, as well as
21the original Newmark Civil Engineering Building, the
22Underground Library, Hydrosystems, the original Digital
23Computer Lab, the original Micro-Nano Technology Center,

 

 

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1Morrill Hall, and over 400 other projects on campus; he was a
2mentor to all who worked with and under him; he retired from
3Severns, Reid and Associates in 2001; for many years
4afterwards, he continued providing pro-bono architecture work
5for those in need; and
 
6    WHEREAS, John Severns loved the mountains, hiking,
7camping, sailing, and cross-country skiing; he also enjoyed
8reading, playing with words, the Sunday ads, and bargain
9shopping; he was a handyman, who enjoyed tinkering in the
10garage and crating solutions to household problems; he was a
11supportive husband and a loving father who provided thoughtful
12guidance; and
 
13    WHEREAS, John Severns was preceded in death by his wife,
14Joan, and his son, Jonathan Severns; and
 
15    WHEREAS, John Severns is survived by his sister, Beverly
16Giegler; his daughters, Karen (Koichi Mori) Severns and
17Christine (Terry) Severns-Williams; and his grandchildren,
18Brittany, Sarah, and Tearra Williams and Alexander
19Severns-Williams; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22John Edward Severns and extend our sincere condolences to his

 

 

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1family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of John Severns as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.