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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jeffrey
4N. "Jeff" Long of Naperville, who passed away on May 29, 2018;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jeff Long was born in Lakewood, Ohio on May 5,
71964; he grew up in Naperville and Batavia and graduated from
8Batavia High School; he then attended Eastern Illinois
9University, where he worked at a radio station and for the
10school newspaper; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jeff Long was a sports writer for the Aurora
12Beacon-News for 23 years; he covered local college and
13professional sporting events, including the champion runs of
14the Chicago Bulls; in May 2005, he joined the Fox Valley Park
15District as the public affairs and communications manager; he
16wrote columns for the park district that appeared in local
17newspapers and was instrumental in reestablishing the
18Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race; the annual race, which started
19in 1961, had steadily declined in popularity, since the
20district limited the race to 1,000 boats; he gave the race new
21life when he made changes, such as shortening the race from its
22original 17 miles to ten, adding a six-mile version that
23appealed to less-experienced canoeists, and developing

 

 

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1detailed guides on the river's condition, including the
2locations of low spots; he also suggested opening the race to
3kayakers; and
 
4    WHEREAS, According to a colleague, Jeff Long was "a career
5journalist and that meant he was a listener...he was a
6professional listener and when colleagues talked with him he
7always had this grin of understanding...there was always this
8rapport and respect he had when dealing with people"; he was an
9active outdoorsman and enjoyed kayaking, biking, fishing,
10hiking, and canoeing; he liked being away from the excitement
11and once spent ten days cycling to a family reunion in Canada;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Jeff Long was preceded in death by his father,
14Gregory Long; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jeff Long is survived by his wife of 24 years,
16Jenean (Mickey) Long; his children, Autumn Long and Trevor
17Long; his brothers, Brad (Laurie) Long, Steve (Jenny) Long,
18Adam (Katie) Long, and Devin Long; his mother, Cynthia Bratta;
19his stepmother, Linda Long; and his many nieces and nephews;
20therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
22HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we

 

 

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1mourn the passing of Jeffrey N. "Jeff" Long and extend our
2sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
3and loved him; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Jeff Long as an expression of our
6deepest sympathy.