SR0147 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0147 LRB102 17553 LAW 23197 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Lynne M. Lichtenauer of Joliet, who passed away on February 23, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer was born in 1939; she was the daughter of Les and Vivian (Barnes) Gomora; she graduated from St. Francis Academy in 1957; she was a pioneer for the City of Joliet and made numerous contributions to the community; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer retired as JTHS Director of Alumni Relations and Development for District 204 in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer spent 11 ˝ years with the Rialto Square Theatre, 4˝ years as its executive director; she was a founding member and later served as director of the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation Board; she also served as a member of the Mardi Gras Event Planning Committee, a consultant for the Festival of Trees event, co-producer of the Rialto Idol productions, and co-producer and director of A Very Rialto Christmas in 2018; and

WHEREAS, In her early career, Lynne Lichtenauer worked professionally as a fashion model in both the Chicago and New York City markets; she worked eight years in public relations and in various administrative positions with the American Broadcasting Company in New York City from 1962 to 1970; she also worked for Bob Stewart Productions in New York City in game show development and the production of game shows for the three major networks from 1965 to 1970; and

WHEREAS, Since 2002, Lynne Lichtenauer was a co-host of weekly WJOL 1340 AM Friday morning talk show Lynne, Mary & Natalie; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer was a popular master of ceremonies for events of all kinds; she served as mistress of ceremonies for the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Annual Memorial Day Tribute to Veterans in 2005, where she had the great privilege of introducing then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama as the keynote speaker; she was the first woman invited to act as the host of the ceremony in the event's nine-year history; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer's volunteerism was boundless; she served as the director of the Silver Cross Foundation Board for 28 years and as director of the Joliet Park District Foundation for 17 years; she was the current president of the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Old Joliet Prison and had served as a board member for 11 years; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer was the director of the Cultural Arts Council of the Joliet area for 30 years, a board member for the Old Joliet Prison Coalition founded in 2018, a board member for the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, a board member of the Joliet Area Sports Hall of Fame for 17 years, a founding member and past director of the Dow Chemical Community Advisory Board, and a member and past board member of the Rotary Club of Lockport; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer supported a number of other organizations throughout the years, bringing her considerable talents to the Friends of Community Public Art Advisory Board, the Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Illinois Junior Miss Pageant, Joliet Junior College, the Joliet Township High School Foundation, Lewis University, the Lincolnway High School Performing Arts Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the City Center Partnership Board of Directors, Silver Cross Hospital, and many more too numerous to list; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer was preceded in death by her parents, Les and Vivian (Barnes) Gomora; and

WHEREAS, Lynne Lichtenauer is survived by her fiancé, Lorin Lynch; her son, Eric; her granddaughter, Lillian; her brother, Les Gomora (Mary Lou); and her numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lynne M. Lichtenauer and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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