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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Michael "Mike" Perricone, of 
4Riverside who passed away on December 9, 2023 at the age of 72; 
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone was born in Brooklyn, New York on 
7December 26, 1950; he attended Brooklyn Technical High School 
8and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he developed his 
9interest in science, engineering, and writing; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone spent his early career in 
11journalism in Troy and Albany, New York; he later moved to 
12Chicago, where he began covering the Chicago Blackhawks for 
13the Chicago Sun-Times in 1977; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone covered more than 1,200 National 
15Hockey League (NHL) games over 12 years; while traveling the 
16country with the Blackhawks, he developed close connections 
17with players and coaches, who appreciated his passion for the 
18team; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone was well-respected and appreciated 
20by his peers in journalism; he encouraged and supported new 
21reporters at the Chicago Sun-Times and developed friendships 
 
 
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1with fellow reporters from rival papers; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone met his wife, Joan Vanderbeck, 
3when responding to a personal ad in Chicago Magazine with a 
4list of his favorite books in 1986; they connected instantly 
5upon their first meeting for a date at the Music Box Theatre, 
6marrying just 14 months later; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone left his position covering 
8professional hockey to take care of his daughter, Jenny, in 
91989; he turned his experiences as a stay-at-home father into 
10his column "Jenny's Dad" for the Chicago Sun-Times; he later 
11compiled these columns into his book titled "From Deadlines to 
12Diapers: Journal of an At-Home Father", for which he made an 
13appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone returned to his career in writing, 
15and interest in science, as a member of the communications 
16staff at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia; he 
17worked at Fermilab for nearly 10 years as a senior writer and 
18science editor; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone helped launch Symmetry Magazine in 
202004, serving as executive editor and sharing his favorite 
21books on particle physics and astrophysics; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone loved sharing his knowledge of 
2science and physics with others; he authored "The Big Bang" to 
3connect an audience of young adults to the origins of the 
4universe; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone continued writing after his 
6retirement, working on a book for young adults, titled 
7"Caged", about a star high school hockey player struggling 
8with depression; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mike Perricone is survived by his wife, Joan 
10Vanderbeck, and his daughter, Jenny Perricone; therefore, be 
11it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Michael "Mike" Perricone and extend our sincere condolences to 
15his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
16further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Mike Perricone as an expression of 
19our deepest sympathy.