SR0085 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0085 LRB100 08246 KLG 18346 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald A. Benchley of Hampshire, who passed away on January 13, 2017 at the age of 91; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley was born in Evanston on April 24, 1925; after graduating from high school he entered the United States Navy serving as a radioman aboard the carrier USS Salamaua in the Pacific; near the end of his tour, he met Joyce, his wife of 69 years; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley was a natural salesman; he worked with his father in the furniture business, representing several furniture and lamp manufacturers, during which time he made many lifelong friends and loyal customers; he also worked at the Taylor YMCA front desk, as an EMT for the Hampshire Fire Department, and at the Superwash car wash in Hampshire; in each job, he made friends and did what he could to make each customer's day better; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley and his wife lived on George Street in Chicago when they were first married and then moved to their first house on Ridge Road in Highland Park; they later moved to a larger home in Highland Park on Princeton Avenue; their last move was to a farm in Hampshire in 1971 where they raised or kept chickens, goats, turkeys, peacocks, horses, cows, as well as having many barn sales, and a massive garden; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley made full use of his military tuition exemption to take classes at Elgin Community College for 28 years, learning glass blowing, welding, and jewelry-making; his found-art welding projects were displayed in galleries and outdoors in Elgin; he also took commissioned work for customers; he made scale models of animals, plants, and insects out of scrap metal and wood; among his creations was a half-scale giraffe, a one-third-scale allosaurus, a full-scale silverback gorilla, a miniature buffalo, a full-scale human skeleton, a family of turtles, and a four-foot spider; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hampshire; his most meaningful and fulfilling time was spent ministering to the homeless and those in jail through the Wayside Cross Ministries; he spent more than 20 years going to Aurora and Elgin, providing Bible study, life lessons, and advice to those who most needed it; he was Wayside's Volunteer of the Year in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley was a no-frills guy; he was honest, hardworking, and dedicated to his God and his family; he was an exceptional example of how to conduct oneself as a husband, father, grandfather, and mentor; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Margaret Benchley; and

WHEREAS, Donald Benchley is survived by his wife, Joyce; his four children, Jeffrey (Terry) Benchley, Janet (Robert) Abramson, John Benchley, and Jason (Julie) Benchley; his eight grandchildren, Jeffrey Eric (Vanessa) Benchley, Justin Allen (Iriss) Benchley, Courtney (Joseph) Benchley Torelli, Brittany (Edward) Benchley May, Julie (Scott) Abramson Brosnan, Marjorie (Jason) Abramson Kranz, Jonathon (Sheena) Abramson, and Maxwell Benchley; his eight great-grandchildren; and his best friend, Larry Wedding; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald A. Benchley, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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