SR0334 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0334 LRB101 12053 ALS 59493 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald Lee "Don" Totten of Cornelius, formerly of Elgin, who passed away on April 2, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Don Totten was born to Edgar and Louise Totten in Brooklyn, New York on February 19, 1933; he was raised in New Jersey and attended Ridgewood High School; he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Notre Dame University in 1955; shortly after graduation, he married Joyce Anderson; and

WHEREAS, After a few years in the engineering field, Don Totten was elected Republican Committeeman of Schaumburg Township in 1966; he was elected to the Illinois legislature in 1972; he was elected State Senator in 1980; in 1982, he ran for Lieutenant Governor; he was elected Chairman of the Cook County Republican Central Committee in 1985; in July of 1990, he was appointed Director of the Regional Transportation Authority; throughout this time, he was president of a private consulting firm specializing in government relations, management, and political consulting; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Don Totten was the State Chairman of the Illinois Citizens for Reagan and a member of the Steering Committee of the Illinois President Ford Committee; he received the Illinois Conservative Union's Legislator of the Year Award in 1977; in 1980, he was the Regional Political Director and Illinois State Chairman for the Reagan for President Committee and a member of Reagan's transition team; he was appointed to the International Joint Commission in July of 1981; and

WHEREAS, Don Totten was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joyce; his daughter, Donna; and his sister, Betty Estelle; and

WHEREAS, Don Totten is survived by his sister, Barbara Hellenack; his children, Diane Faldstein, Robert (Cyndi) Totten; and Kathy (Mike) Weber; his grandchildren, Brett Faldstein, Ericka Faldstein, Kyle Weber, Jennifer Totten, Alex Weber, Daniel Totten, and Brian Totten; and his great-grandson, Joshua Brady; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald Lee "Don" Totten and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Don Totten as an expression of our deepest sympathy.