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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Rudolf A. "Rudy" Frasca of Savoy, who
4passed away on May 11, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca was born in Chicago to Anthony and
6Jenny Frasca on April 19, 1931; he started learning to fly when
7he was 14; he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War,
8and he worked as a flight instructor while stationed at
9Glenview Naval Station; he attended the University of Illinois,
10where he researched aviation psychology and maintained
11simulators at the Aviation Research Lab; he married Lucille
12Matern in 1955; they moved to Champaign and raised their eight
13children; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca built his first flight simulator in
15his garage in Champaign; he founded Frasca Aviation in 1958,
16which was later renamed Frasca International; his company was
17located on the southeast corner of Neil and Green streets in
18Champaign until 1990, when the factory moved to Frasca Field in
19north Urbana; he became a titan in the flight simulation
20industry, with his simulators being sold around the world to
21aviation schools, commercial airlines, and the U.S. Navy; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca was a benefactor of several aviation

 

 

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1organizations; he had a special place in his heart for
2collegiate aviation, including the National Intercollegiate
3Flying Association (NIFA), the intercollegiate flight
4competition SAFECON, and the University Aviation Association
5(UAA); he loaned several of his aircraft to the Experimental
6Aircraft Association (EAA) museum for the enjoyment of the
7general public; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca was active in many aviation
9organizations; he received a number of accolades for his
10personal efforts and his company's contributions, including
11being selected as the grand marshal in the 2015 Champaign
12County Freedom Celebration Parade and named the V. Dale Cozad
13Entrepreneur of the Year by the Parkland College Foundation in
142013; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca was known for his outgoing
16personality, his sense of humor, his strong work ethic, and his
17faith; his family was everything to him; he enjoyed organizing
18fly-ins and collecting antique planes; he wrote a book about
19his love of aviation called From Cubs to Spitfires; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca was preceded in death by his parents
21and his son, Joseph Frasca; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Rudy Frasca is survived by his wife, Lucille; his

 

 

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1seven children; and his 18 grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Rudolf A. "Rudy" Frasca and extend our sincere condolences to
5his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Rudy Frasca as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.