]]> About the issue In this last edition of the year, Illinois Times celebrates the lives of just a few of the Springfield-area people who have died during the past year. By reading their stories, you c]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> On June 20 the community lost a valued colleague and friend. Joe Hennessy, exhibits design chief at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, shared his creativity and artistic talents with more than ]]> Each year when we put together our end-of-year obituary issue, I find myself wishing I had known these people, or known them better. I’d see Dr. Gordon Smith at community meetings, but never kne]]> Malik Hines, a Springfield High School senior who, along with freshman Zena Garcia, died in a car accident in November, was known for his talents and for his unique sense of style. But what at least t]]> ]]> Fran Richardson was known and loved by many. I personally knew Fran from working with her at the state comptroller’s office. She started there in 2004, and always said how lucky she was to get s]]> When the radio is on, his familiar voice is absent. Ed Ruebling embodied all that was good about WQNA: Play lots of music and speak only as needed. It was an approach that harked back to his experienc]]> “He was the whole package” is Dr. Marc Shelton’s description of cardiologist Dr. James Dove, founder of Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants, who died Nov. 7 at age 71, one year to the]]> ]]>