SR2012 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2012 LRB100 23409 ALS 42435 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of David Kay Ph.D. of Urbana, who passed away on September 2, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Professor Kay was the son of Warren and Josephine Kay and grew up in Philadelphia; he received his early education in Philadelphia public schools; he earned a bachelor of art at the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in English at Princeton University; and

WHEREAS, Professor Kay joined the Department of English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1966; he was actively involved in the English Department and served in administrative roles, including as associate head; he was a dedicated and inspiring teacher of Shakespeare and other early modern English writers; he was also internationally recognized as an expert on the plays and poems of Ben Johnson; he wrote a biography of Johnson and an influential series of articles on his self-presentation in his early plays; he was also the editor of two books; and

WHEREAS, Professor Kay and his family attended First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, where he served in many roles, including on the session, as a deacon, and as part of the Earth Care Team; most recently, he enjoyed working at the church thrift shop; he was dedicated to the mission of the shop and the church; he most treasured his roles as father and husband; and

WHEREAS, Professor Kay was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Carolyn Michael; and

WHEREAS, Professor Kay is survived by his wife, Marilyn Frey Kay; his sons, Brian and Gordon; and his grandsons, Austin, Lucas, and Conrad; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of David Kay Ph.D. 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 Professor Kay as an expression of our deepest sympathy.