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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Lesley Swick Van Ness of Morton,
4formerly of Quincy, who passed away on April 10, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lesley Van Ness was born to Sterling and Jan
6(Johnson) Swick in Macomb on December 28, 1980; she graduated
7from Hamilton High School in 1999; she earned her Bachelor of
8Science from Illinois State University in 2003, where she was
9a member of the ISU Department of Communications TV-10 news
10team; she married Thomas "Tom" Van Ness at St. John's Anglican
11Parish in Quincy on June 2, 2012; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lesley Van Ness began her long and distinguished
13career in TV after graduation, starting as an intern at WGEM;
14she began full-time employment in 2003, serving in the Macomb
15Bureau before earning her first promotion as weekend anchor;
16she was promoted again to primary evening anchor for the
17newscasts at 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. in 2008; she began anchoring
18all three evening broadcasts in 2010; during her 13-plus years
19at WGEM, her work on air and producing newscasts was
20award-winning, her dedication to the viewers and industry was
21exemplary, and her smile and charisma made her a household
22name in the tristate area; after her on-air career, she
23continued working for Quincy Media as its first recruitment

 

 

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1specialist; and
 
2    WHEREAS, After Gray Television acquired Quincy Media in
32021, Lesley Van Ness was asked to develop the recruitment
4division as its first director of talent acquisition; she
5created the foundation and blueprint for fellowship programs,
6paid internships, and opportunities for future journalists in
7over 113 television markets across the United States; she was
8a highly prized contact for students in the hunt for careers in
9journalism as she fought for and mentored students in their
10journey to become journalists; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Lesley Van Ness was a devoted partner to her
12husband, Tom; together, they enjoyed many adventures,
13including the three-day run up in Wrigleyville for the 2016
14Cubs World Series win, all-night round trips to Duke
15University's appearance in the 2015 Final Four and its fifth
16NCAA title, many Dave Matthews and Bon Jovi concerts, shows on
17Broadway in New York City, and honky-tonks in Nashville; they
18also loved visiting the beach and spending time on Marco
19Island, Florida; their most enjoyable adventure was raising
20their two boys; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Lesley Van Ness was the consummate professional
22and an exceptional wife and mother who taught her children the
23importance of reading, safety, learning, and love; she will be

 

 

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1remembered with respect and admiration; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Lesley Van Ness was preceded in death by her
3maternal grandmother, Annalee Johnson; her paternal
4grandparents, Vernon and Nellie Swick; her maternal uncle,
5Rick Johnson; her grandparents-in-law, Thomas and Anne Oakley
6and Albert and Judy Van Ness; and her stepfather-in-law, Steve
7Winters; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Lesley Swick Van Ness is survived by her husband;
9her sons, Sterling Thomas Van Ness and Cameron Lyle Van Ness;
10her parents; her aunts, Joanna (Barry) Wright, Cathy Johnson,
11and Cathy (Blake) Haskins; her uncles, Tom (Jane) Swick and
12Terry (Pam) Swick; her cousins, Megan (Chris) Atkinson, Jared
13(Kat) Wright, Marty (Julie) Gleason, Sara (Jade) Haskins,
14Ashley (Michael) Kowall, Amanda (Che') Humphrey, Todd Swick,
15Amy Rea, Justin (Mindy) Johnson, Andy (Melissa) Johnson, and
16Krista Johnson; her nieces, Brylee Cook and Allison Icenogle;
17her mother-in-law, Mary Winters; her father-in-law, Jon (Tina)
18Van Ness; her siblings-in-law, Ben (Amanda) Van Ness and
19Jonathan (Mark Peacock) Van Ness; her stepsister-in-law,
20Jennifer (Don) Krutmeier; and numerous other cousins, nieces,
21and nephews; therefore, be it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
23ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of

 

 

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1Lesley Swick Van Ness and extend our sincere condolences to
2her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
3further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Lesley Van Ness as an expression of
6our deepest sympathy.