HR0617 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0617 LRB102 24891 LAW 34141 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Frank Michael Zuccarelli of South Holland, who passed away on January 3, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli was born to James J. and Marjorie Zuccarelli in Chicago on October 29, 1951; he attended Mendel Catholic School before his family moved to South Holland in 1967; he graduated from Thornridge High School; he served as a medic in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam from 1969 to 1972; he earned his Associate of Science in 1976 and his Associate of Arts in 1978 from Thornton Community College, where he served as the first student trustee in 1976; he earned his bachelor's degree from Governors State University; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli was elected to the Board of Trustees of Thornton Community College in 1978, which was renamed South Suburban College (SSC) in 1988; he had served as chairman since 1987; he received a service award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) in 2014, recognizing his then-35 years of service as a community college trustee; during his 43-year tenure, he witnessed SSC and the Illinois community college system grow from temporary buildings into the third largest community college system in the U.S.; he was only the fifth person out of more than 2,200 current and former trustees to reach this level of success in the entire State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli was elected supervisor of Thornton Township in April 1993; prior to his election, he served on the Thornton Township Youth Committee Board for 16 years; he implemented a number of initiatives and programs for the diverse demographics in his township, including weekly hot meals and transportation for seniors, free afterschool care, summer enrichment for children, lunch and learn, a lawn care program, and the property tax refund program, which returned over $5 million in property taxes to homeowners; he was awarded Supervisor of the Year in 1996, 2007, and 2012, and Thornton Township earned Township of the Year by the Township Officials of Illinois Educational Conference in 2004 and 2008; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli was elected committeeman of the Thornton Township Democratic Organization in 2002; as committeeman, he was responsible for the coordination of election judges for 124 precincts, the largest township in the State of Illinois; he also had served on the Cook County Economic Development Advisory Board since 1996 and the Cook County Employee Appeals Board since 2009; he served as president for the substance abuse rehabilitation program Foundation I, Center for Human Development, for nine years; he was a former board member of Habitat for Humanity; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli received a number of accolades, including the Civic Responsibility Award, the Diversity Inc. Award, the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Committee for Honest Government, and the Excellence and Openness in Financial Reporting; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli enjoyed music and had created songs as a hobby, including a few songs in memory of his youngest brother; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli was known for his distinguished leadership, his commitment to people, his passion for helping others, and his unwavering loyalty; he was a tireless supporter of education and a firm believer in creating and sustaining equal opportunity; he impacted countless lives and will forever be a legend in the Southland; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James T. Zuccarelli; and

WHEREAS, Frank Zuccarelli is survived by his longtime girlfriend, Carmen Canales; his siblings, Candace Paun (late John) and Kenneth V. Zuccarelli; his uncle, Robert Boskovich; his aunts, Dawn Brown (Bill), Sharon Myszak (late Michael), and Denyse Taylor (Jim); his nieces and nephews, John Paun, Joe (Sarah) Paun, Marjorie Alexander (Greg), and Lorrin Paun; his great-nieces and great-nephews, Nadia Paun, Junior Paun, Jocelynn Paun, Beau Paun, Dane Paun, Lilly Alexander, Zac Alexander, and Johnny Paun; his many cousins and friends; and his "son", Nate Fields; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Frank Michael Zuccarelli and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Frank Zuccarelli as an expression of our deepest sympathy.