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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Spencer Adrian Tyson of Oak Park, who
4passed away on April 11, 2023 at the age of 82; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson was born to Mary Frances (Hinton)
6and Claude Lemon Tyson in Alton on December 31, 1940; he was
7raised in the Dogtown neighborhood of Alton, and he spent
8summers visiting family in Forrest City, Arkansas; he began
9his freshman year at Alton Senior High School, but he
10graduated in San Diego, California while simultaneously
11serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; during his military service,
12he traveled to Okinawa, Japan, where he established
13friendships crossing cultural and racial lines; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After being honorably discharged, Spencer Tyson
15enrolled as a student at Southern Illinois University at
16Edwardsville; he worked two jobs prior to his commencement in
171969; he married classmate Lois Lee Granger; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson was a salesperson at Equitable Life
19Insurance Company when he and his wife welcomed two daughters,
20Kimberly Idean and Nicole Adrian; shortly after Nicole's birth
21in 1973, he and the family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia so he
22could accept a promotion with Equitable as one of the first

 

 

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1African-American men to attain the title of department vice
2president; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson moved his family back to Alton for
4access to behavioral therapy when his daughter Nicole was
5diagnosed with autism at the age of two; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson continued to travel for work
7assignments and ultimately made Oak Park the family's
8permanent home; he was motivated to obtain a graduate degree
9in business due to job security concerns, which allowed him to
10become a pensions analyst; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson and his wife helped expand the
12local social service network by creating a vocational program
13for an autism-focused group called Parents Allied with
14Children and Teachers for Tomorrow (PACTT), with their
15daughter Nicole becoming the first vocational program
16enrollee; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson faced severe injuries in 2002, but
18his recovery process was accompanied by a gregarious
19personality change, including a blossoming of his sense of
20humor and newfound enjoyment in family gatherings; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson experienced a surprise cancer

 

 

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1diagnosis in 2013, and his will to survive this diagnosis was
2reinforced by his promise to walk his daughter Kimberly down
3the aisle at her wedding; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson struggled with his faith throughout
5his life, especially during times of trial and tribulation,
6which included several major health challenges; eventually, he
7adopted a more conciliatory stance towards religion and church
8participation; through it all, his wife and two daughters were
9constant sources of fulfillment, inspiration, and pride; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Spencer Tyson was a music connoisseur,
11specifically jazz and classical; he also read voraciously and
12stayed attuned to politics; and
 
13    WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Spencer Tyson was
14survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Lois; his daughters,
15Kimberly and Nicole; his son-in-law, Nathan Goldbaum; and a
16host of family and friends; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
19Spencer Adrian Tyson and extend our sincere condolences to his
20family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
21further
 

 

 

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