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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to those who have made a
4difference in their community and in Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Brooks Edwin Tonn was born on August 29, 2007,
6the beloved son of Nora (Keenan) and Robert Tonn; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn grew up in Hinsdale, where he
8excelled in academics at school and in sports; he was always
9first to be on the field and was always ready for a pick-up
10game or to watch the others play; he was the pitcher on his
11beloved baseball team, the Hinsdale Red Dogs, and quarterback
12on his Hinsdale Falcons football team; he loved playing golf
13and swimming; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In December of 2016, Brooks Tonn was diagnosed
15with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Cancer did not stop Brooks Tonn's dedication to
17those around him or the sports he loved, especially baseball;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn even timed his cancer treatments so
20he could attend school and play the sports he loved; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, During the year of his medical treatments, Brooks
2Tonn, a lifelong baseball fan, played in 54 games for his
3cherished Red Dogs, the Hinsdale Little League, and the
4Hinsdale All Stars; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn made sure that all kids were welcome
6in any game he played; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn was introduced to Jason Garrett, the
8head coach of the Dallas Cowboys; after their first meeting,
9they became fast friends, and Garrett gave Brooks his personal
10phone number, so they could keep in touch through text; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn was given the opportunity to fly to
12Dallas to meet the Dallas Cowboys and watch a private
13practice; he was presented with the game ball, which made him
14forget how much discomfort he felt from his treatments; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs, a survivor of
16cancer himself, visited Brooks Tonn and sat with him while he
17was receiving chemotherapy treatments; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn lived by the motto "Have Courage and
19Be Kind," and his community rallied behind him and that
20belief; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, From the day Brooks Tonn was diagnosed to his
2last moments, Reverend Wayne Watts was present, offering
3spiritual support for the entire family; and
 
4    WHEREAS, During his treatments, Brooks Tonn met many
5wonderful people who helped him and his family cope with the
6difficulties he faced on a daily basis; dozens of family
7members and friends joined together to offer a meal-prep
8service to his whole family for months, giving them the
9opportunity to focus on the fight they were facing; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Local newspapers published stories about Brooks
11Tonn while he was in the earlier stages of his treatment;
12through a friend, his story was shared with actress and
13director Lisa Varga, who interviewed Brooks and developed a
14documentary about his fight against cancer; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Brooks Tonn passed away peacefully on December 1,
162017 and is survived by his loving parents; he was the dear
17brother of Hunter, Griffin, and Scarlett; the cherished
18grandson of Nancy and William Brooks Keenan and Barbara and
19Donald Tonn; the cherished nephew of Betsy and Brian Moran,
20Bill and Denise Keenan, Trish and Patrick Kinsella, Dan and
21Tracey Keenan, Tom and Danielle Keenan, and Donald Jr. and
22Kari Tonn; the dearest cousin of Kate and Christian Arquilla,

 

 

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1Finn Arquilla, Jack, Christopher, and Nora Moran, William IV
2and Hannah Keenan, Genevieve, Patrick Cass, and Colette
3Kinsella, Christopher, Lauren, Jane, and Ben Keenan, Patrick,
4Caroline, and Sean Keenan, Lindsey Kaplan-Herman, and Amanda
5Tonn; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Following Brooks Tonn's passing, more than 2,000
7friends, family, dignitaries, and community members attended
8his memorial service and funeral; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Brooks Strong Foundation was formed in memory
10of Brooks Tonn; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Brooks Strong Foundation funds cutting-edge
12pediatric cancer research and provides scholarships to defray
13the cost of sports and extracurricular activities for families
14with kids going through cancer treatment; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The Hinsdale Little League has honored Brooks
16Tonn with the creation of the Brooks Tonn Award for the player
17on each team that demonstrates a commitment to teamwork,
18effort, and kindness; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Like a shooting star, Brooks Tonn's brilliant,
20shining glow, his smile, and his energy, lit up the lives of
21everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, but are gone too

 

 

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1soon; just because he is no longer here, it does not mean he
2will be forgotten; his presence resonates through all who knew
3him and through the Brooks Strong Foundation; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Since the day of Brooks Tonn's passing, blue and
5yellow cups have adorned the 47th Street Bridge over
6Interstate 294 with his rallying cry "Brooks Strong"; and
 
7    WHEREAS, It is fitting that we provide a lasting honor to
8the memory of Brooks Tonn; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
10HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
11SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the 47th Street
12Bridge over Interstate 294 as the "Brooks Edwin Tonn Memorial
13Bridge"; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Toll Highway Authority is
15requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
16State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
17giving notice of the name of the "Brooks Edwin Tonn Memorial
18Bridge"; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Brooks Tonn, the Illinois Toll
21Highway Authority, and the Brooks Strong Foundation.