SR0414LRB103 33380 ECR 63192 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of James C. "Jim" Steele of Des Plaines,
4who passed away on July 18, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, James Steele was born to John "Ray" Steele and
6Ruth Hellen (Elsner) Steele in Sandusky, Ohio on May 14, 1944;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Jim Steele was a budding amateur magician in high
9school, later touring the country professionally at county and
10state fairs, carnivals, and the Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers
11Circus; he was also an illusionist, a mentalist, an escape
12artist, a sword swallower, and a fire eater; throughout the
131960s, he had many opportunities in show business, including
14small parts in movies and theater; he toured as part of a
15vaudeville troupe, and he was master of ceremonies in various
16nightclubs and variety shows in Ohio, New York City, New
17Jersey, and Chicago; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Jim Steele worked as a consultant,
19writer, and promoter of fine wines; he organized large wine
20tastings and auctions for various liquor stores in the
21Chicagoland area; he was a two-time winner of Geja's Annual
22International Wine Tasting Contest; and
 

 

 

SR0414- 2 -LRB103 33380 ECR 63192 r

1    WHEREAS, Jim Steele was a dedicated grandfather who loved
2dining, traveling, and movie watching with his grandchildren;
3he will be most remembered for his fun, outgoing nature, and
4his open and accepting personality; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Steele was the husband of the late Nanci
6Steele for 45 years; the stepfather to Barbra (Richard
7Spychalski) Versino and the late Robert Versino; the
8grandfather of Jonathan Spychalski and Emma Spychalski; the
9brother of Ruth Williams, Mary Sue Clifton, the late Jane
10Adelman, the late Carol Steele, Johnny Steele, and the late
11Rose Steele; and the uncle to many nieces and nephews;
12therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15James C. "Jim" Steele and extend our sincere condolences to
16his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
17further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Jim Steele as an expression of our
20deepest sympathy.