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- The News-Gazette
February 16, 2017
NAPLES, Fla. – Longtime University of Illinois administrator Adlon Dohme Jorgensen Rector had just four daughters, but for thousands of U of I students she also was their "campus mom."
Adlon Dohme Jorgensen Rector, 79, of Naples, Fla., died on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017.
Adlon was raised in Champaign, the daughter of Carl and Nolda Dohme. She was a graduate of Champaign High School in 1955 and the University of Illinois in 1959. At the U of I, she followed her mother's legacy, joining Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, which began her lifelong involvement with Kappa.
She was also involved in Student Senate, Senior Women's Scholastic and Activity Honorary and many other organizations.
Adlon spent summers golfing and swimming in Champaign and at Camp Manito-wish YMCA in Boulder Junction, Wis., as a leader and counselor, beginning her strong connection with camp.
During her final summer in college, she took a class in Hawaii, where she met Richard "Dick" Jorgensen, a University of Wisconsin graduate who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They married in 1959, eventually settled in Champaign and had two daughters, Londa and Susan. When Adlon's sister, Beth, and her husband, Bill Wallin, died in a plane crash, Adlon and Dick adopted Beth and Bill's daughter, Sarah, and raised her as their own.
While her daughters were very young, Adlon devoted her time to them and to volunteer work in the community. She also earned a master's degree in child development and family relations from the U of I in 1969.
In 1977, she accepted the position of Panhellenic advisor and assistant dean of students at her beloved U of I. Later she was named educational advisor to the Interfraternity Research and Advisory Council - the first advisor to work with both fraternities and sororities.
Over the next 16 years, she mentored and counseled thousands of students - celebrating their successes, advising them when they faced challenges, while teaching and modeling servant leadership. She remained close with many students long after they graduated, attending weddings and other major life events.
Adlon's greatest strengths were her positive attitude and making the most of each day, and her best gifts were her ability to listen with a thoughtful and caring approach, creatively solving challenges and connecting people in ways that she hoped would make their life better.
In 1985, she was named the most outstanding Panhellenic advisor in the nation and in 1994, she received a Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Achievement Award.
Her involvement went beyond the U of I. She was the first female president of the Champaign Country Club in 1996; was a board member of Camp Manito-wish YMCA; was a member of the advisory board of Bank One of Champaign; served on the Krannert Art Museum Council, Social Science Club, Junior League of Champaign-Urbana; and was an elder of Champaign's First Presbyterian Church. She served on the board of trustees of the Kappa Kappa Gamma National Foundation and was instrumental in starting the Kappa Leadership Academy.
She was preceded in death in 1990 by Dick. She married Bob Rector in 1995, and they enjoyed spending time at the beach, boating, traveling, playing golf and spending time with family and friends. He survives.
She is also survived by her children, Londa (Walter) Dewey of Madison, Wis., Susan (Pat) Fitzgerald of Champaign and Sarah (Brent) Thompson of Avon, Ind., and stepdaughter, Christy (Rob) Etten of Naples, Fla., as well as her 10 grandchildren, Kristin Nolda Dewey, Carlton (Molly Winding fiancee) Dewey, Maggie (Nick) Glenn, Tommy Fitzgerald, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Nick (McCaela Moes fiancee) Thompson, Beth Thompson, Katie Thompson, Shannon Etten and Hannah Etten.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, Nolda and Carl Dohme.
Her grandchildren called her Adea and described her as fun, offering wise advice and showing what it means to live a life of impact.
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1937 - 2017 (79 years)
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