HR0471LRB101 12896 ALS 61731 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Gene 
4"Coach Ping" Pingatore of Westchester, who passed away on June 
526, 2019; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was born to Frank and Annette 
7Pingatore on October 12, 1936; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was the coach of the St. Joseph 
9High School basketball team, the Chargers; the most successful 
10coach in Illinois high school basketball history, he had a 
11record of 1035-383 in 50 years; he coached NBA stars Isiah 
12Thomas and Evan Turner and three McDonald's All-Americans, 
13Isaiah Thomas, Daryl Thomas, and Daryl  Cunningham; he had a 
14starring role in the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Gene Pingatore was 
16coaching at the Riverside-Brookfield shootout and was planning 
17to start his 51st season at the helm of the Chargers' 
18basketball program; under his guidance, the Chargers were one 
19of the state's best teams, winning two state championships, 
20advancing to the state finals six times, and winning 13 
21sectionals; in 2017, he was honored with a massive celebration 
22by the school when he won his 1,000th game; and
  
 
 
 
HR0471- 2 -LRB101 12896 ALS 61731 r

1    WHEREAS, As a coach, Gene Pingatore valued "the 
2relationships that were developed"; according to the IHSA 
3Executive Director, "the number of students he impacted during 
4his career is immeasurable"; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was the loving father of Lisa 
6(Mike) Crispo, the proud grandfather of Erin, Kelli, and Jack, 
7the beloved fiance of Jill Oakley, the proud uncle of Frank 
8(Kristin) Kasprzak, Nick Kasprzak, and the late Robert E. 
9Kasprzak, the loving son of the late Annette and Frank, the 
10dear brother of the late Sandra, and the brother-in-law of 
11Robert Kasprzak; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we mourn the passing of Gene "Coach Ping" Pingatore and extend 
15our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who 
16knew and loved him; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Gene Pingatore as an expression of 
19our deepest sympathy.