HR0040 LRB096 05819 GRL 17709 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Eugene C.
4 "Gene" Drendel of Naperville, who passed away on October 16,
5 2008; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel was born on November 30, 1936; he
7 attended SS. Peter & Paul Grade School and was a member of
8 Naperville Community High School's Class of 1954; he earned a
9 bachelor's degree in agriculture and a master's degree in
10 educational administration from Iowa State College in Ames,
11 where he met his future wife, Sharon; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel had a long and accomplished career in
13 education; he began his career in DeKalb, where he served as a
14 middle school math and science teacher; returning to Naperville
15 in 1963, he taught at Lincoln Junior High School and later
16 served as assistant principal; in 1966, he became principal of
17 Naper Elementary School; in 1969, he went on to serve as an
18 interim principal at Beebe Elementary School; in 1970, he
19 helped open Jefferson Junior High School, where he served as
20 principal until 1985; in 1985, he was elevated to the position
21 of Associate Superintendent of Instruction for Naperville
22 School District #203 for grades 6 through 12, where he remained
23 until his retirement in 1994; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, After his retirement, Gene Drendel mentored many
2 future educators at North Central College in Naperville for the
3 next 10 years, teaching an introduction to teaching course and
4 coordinating student teacher placements; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel was recognized twice by the
6 Naperville Jaycees for his contributions to public education as
7 an "Outstanding Young Educator" and as a "Distinguished
8 Educator"; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel was active in youth athletics,
10 especially wrestling, high school football, and Little League
11 Baseball, as a coach, announcer, and supporter; he was an
12 inductee into the SS. Peter & Paul School Hall of Fame, the
13 Naperville Central High School Hall of Fame, and the IHSA
14 Wrestling Hall of Fame; Kennedy Junior High in Naperville,
15 which opened in 1990, was dedicated in his honor; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel was active in many civic and
17 charitable organizations; he was an active member and
18 past-president of the Naperville Rotary; he served on the
19 DuPage County Fair Board, Little Friends, Naperville River Walk
20 Commission, and the Shanower 9/11 Memorial; he was a longtime
21 member of SS. Peter & Paul Church in Naperville; he was proud
22 of his Naperville heritage and was committed to the community

 

 

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1 and its educational opportunities; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel enjoyed fishing and spending time
3 with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Gene Drendel was the loving husband of Sharon M.
5 (nee Fogarty) Drendel, whom he married on June 25, 1960; the
6 beloved father of Terri Drendel, Joseph (Eileen) Drendel,
7 Douglas Drendel, Andrea (Steve) Coates, and Sean (Crissy)
8 Drendel; the adored grandfather of Hunter, Serena, Ellie, and
9 Aiden Drendel, Madisen and Korey Gonzalez, and Courtney, Alex,
10 and Nicole Coates; the devoted son of the late Andrew and Cleo
11 (nee Reidy) Drendel; the dear brother of Ken (Jean) Drendel,
12 Harriet (Ray) Kuhn, Grace Steininger, and the late Thomas
13 (Nancy) Drendel; the fond uncle of many; and the loving
14 brother-in-law of the late Ginny (the late Thomas) Drendel;
15 therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
18 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Eugene
19 C. "Gene" Drendel; and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 presented to the family of Gene Drendel as an expression of our
22 sympathy.