Adlon D. Rector

                Adlon Dohme Jorgensen Rector, 79, of Naples, Florida, died on February 8, 2017.

                Adlon was raised in Champaign, Illinois, 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 life-long 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, WI, 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, Illinois 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; a Board Member of Camp Manito-wish YMCA; a member of the Advisory Board of Bank One of Champaign and served on the Krannert Art Museum Council, Social Science Club, Junior League of Champaign-Urbana and she 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, Wisconsin, Susan (Pat) Fitzgerald of Champaign, Illinois, Sarah (Brent) Thompson of Avon, Indiana and stepdaughter Christy (Rob) Etten of Naples, Florida, as well as her 10 grandchildren:  Kristin Nolda Dewey, Carlton (Molly Winding fiancé) Dewey, Maggie (Nick) Glenn, Tommy Fitzgerald, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Nick (McCaela Moes fiancé) 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.

                Memorial Services for Adlon are scheduled for 3:00pm on February 19 at the Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Clayton Rd. Naples, FL and at 1:30pm on April 8 at the First Presbyterian Church, 302 W. Church St in Champaign, IL.

                Memorials can be made to the Adlon Dohme Jorgensen Greek Life Endowment Fund, University of Illinois Foundation, http://giving.illinois.edu/; Camp Manito-wish YMCA, P.O. Box 246 Boulder Junction, WI  54512 or National Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, www.kappakappagamma.org/donate.

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