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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Daniel William Escalona of Oak Park, who
4passed away on April 12, 2019 at the age of 25; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Daniel Escalona attended Oak Park and River Forest
6High School, where he was a detail-oriented sports editor for
7the school's Trapeze newspaper and a valued member of the
8Spoken Word Club; during his time with Spoken Word, he mentored
9others as a captain and participated in all 12 showcases; he
10later graduated from the University of Illinois at
11Urbana-Champaign with both a bachelor's degree and a master's
12degree in journalism; Professor Stephanie Craft, the head of
13the Department of Journalism, noted that Daniel was "one of the
14best students I've ever had"; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Daniel Escalona began his career in sports
16journalism during high school as an intern at the Wednesday
17Journal, where he immediately impressed his supervisors and
18peers with his writing abilities; according to former editor
19Brad Spencer, his copy was "not only clean but written with
20enthusiasm"; he later wrote opinion pieces on diverse topics
21ranging from the call to ban plastic straws to immigrants'
22access to public services and benefits that were published in
23the Chicago Tribune; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Despite being diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular
2Dystrophy at the age of four, Daniel Escalona defied many
3expectations; he was known for his dry sense of humor and was
4very optimistic, hopeful, and positive; he played goalie on a
5local soccer team, conducted interviews of the subjects he
6covered, despite physical challenges, and set goals for
7himself, including reading the classic novels; before his
8death, he had decided to read Moby Dick, as the hard parts
9interested him most of all; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Daniel Escalona was preceded in death by his
11grandfather, William Boyter; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Daniel Escalona is survived by his parents, Julio
13Alejandro Escalona and Margaret Boyter Escalona; his sister,
14Isabela; his grandmothers, Delia Maldonado Ortiz and Bernice
15Boyter; his aunt, Janet (E.J.) Boyter; his uncles, William and
16Robert (Gordana) Boyter; his cousins, Kevin Boyter, Martina
17(Juan Carlos) Olivo Torres, and Matea Boyter; his many family
18members in Mexico; and his many friends; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
21Daniel William Escalona and extend our sincere condolences to
22his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it

 

 

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1further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Daniel Escalona as an expression of
4our deepest sympathy.