SR0164 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0164 LRB098 11388 GRL 43115 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gordon Neal Keating of Los Alamos, New Mexico, who passed away on February 14, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Keating grew up in Edwardsville and graduated from Edwardsville High School, he subsequently earned his bachelor's degree with distinction in geology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1988, his master's degree from Michigan Technological University in 1991, and his Ph.D. in geology at the University of New Mexico in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Keating grew up passionate about natural history, geology, and volcanology; after college, he worked for the United States Geological Survey at the Cascades Volcanic observatory, where he met a fellow geologist and his future wife, Elizabeth; and

WHEREAS, After his tenure at the USGS, Gordon Keating and his wife moved to New Mexico; in 1995, he began working for the Los Alamos National Laboratory; he has published numerous papers in volcanology and helped to develop eruption and erosion histories for volcanic centers, including Yucca Mountain in Nevada; most recently, he was contributing to projects related to carbon sequestration and energy sustainability; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Keating enjoyed spending time with backpacking, camping trips, rafting, canoeing, and cycling; he also enjoyed playing traditional music, especially old-time American and Irish styles; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Keating was a member of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos and had a strong commitment to working with young people as an adviser to youth groups at the church; he also served a term as chairman of the building committee of the Unitarian Church; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Keating was preceded in death by his mother, Jody Keating; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Keating is survived by his father, Richard Keating; his wife, Elizabeth; his daughters, Zoe and Flannery; and his brother, Philip; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Gordon Neal Keating; and be it further

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