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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply
3saddened to learn of the death of Fred Abdula of Waukegan, who
4passed away on October 12, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula was born on August 22, 1925, in
6Waukegan to Joseph and Valda Abdula; he graduated from Waukegan
7Township High School in 1943; he served in the U.S. Marine
8Corps during World War II in the South Pacific and he earned
9his BSME from the University of Illinois; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula worked for Deep Freeze, Inc. and
11Johnson Motors in Waukegan; in 1955, he started his own
12business, Air Con Refrigeration and Heating, Inc.; he belonged
13to the Lake County Contractors Association and served as its
14president in 1973 and 1979; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula was elected to the board of directors
16at the Bank of Waukegan (NorStates Bank) in 1975; in 1982, he
17was elected chairman of the board and CEO; upon his retirement
18in 2011, the NorStates main facility on Lewis Avenue was
19designated The Honorary Fred Abdula Banking Center; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula's love for the community in which he
21lived and worked led him to become one of the prime people in

 

 

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1the refurbishment of the Genesee Theatre, serving on the board
2of directors since 1991; the Genesee Theatre stage was named in
3his honor; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula held many prestigious positions, such
5as director of the Waukegan/Lake County Chamber of Commerce,
6chairman of the First Federal Bank and CEO, member of the board
7of directors of the Waukegan Business Association, and member
8of the board of directors of Vista Health Systems; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula and his wife had many philanthropic
10endeavors, including donations to the College of Lake County
11Foundation, resulting in the annual Abdula Scholarship,
12attempting to strengthen Israel's economy through the Israel
13Bond campaign, resulting in his winning the "Gates to
14Jerusalem" medal, and his donation of funds to purchase police
15dogs for the city of Waukegan; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula was involved in many service
17organizations, such as The United Way, the American Legion,
18Elks, Lions, Kiwanis, and Moose Clubs; he had many honors
19bestowed to him over the years, including CEO of the year by
20Financial World Magazine in 1993, Chicago Entrepreneurship
21Hall of Fame inductee in 2003, distinguished alumnus award by
22the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of
23Illinois in 2006, Patron of the Year-Waukegan Park District in

 

 

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12009, and grand marshal of Waukegan's American Independence
2Parade in 2011; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Fred Abdula is survived by his wife of 63 years,
4Anna Marie; his children, Linda (James) Considine, Patrick
5Abdula, Michael Abdula, and Lisa Abdula; his sister, Marlene
6Hunt; and many adoring nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Fred Abdula, and we extend our sincere condolences to his
10family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Fred Abdula as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.