SR0357 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0357 LRB093 15424 HSS 41027 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Angelo Geocaris on Saturday, December 20, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Geocaris was the child of Greek immigrants living on the Southwest Side of Chicago; he graduated from Parker High School in 1938; he was a 1942 graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in political science; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Geocaris valiantly served his country during World War II in the U.S. Navy; he served in six combat missions in the Pacific Theater of Operations; after college and his years in the military, he attended law school at Northwestern University, receiving a Juris Doctorate in 1948; and

WHEREAS, Following law school, Mr. Geocaris became active in political fund-raising; he was chief executive officer of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission in the early 1950s and then an attorney for Cook County Sheriff Joseph Lohman; over the years, he was a trusted friend to former U.S. Senator Paul Douglas, Governor Adlai E. Stevenson, U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie, as well as to the donors who bankrolled their runs for office; and

WHEREAS, Concurrent with his political work, Mr. Geocaris built his own businesses; he married Irene Drake in 1948 and then followed her father into the restaurant trade in 1960; he also built a powerful law practice in Chicago, grew businesses in real estate, trucking, and financial services, and became a behind-the-scenes confidant to philanthropists and politicians; through the years, Mr. Geocaris started a chain of Barnaby's Family Inns pizza restaurants, and later, Little Lady Foods, which supplies food to restaurants; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Geocaris has been a guest lecturer on business issues at Northwestern University, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, and the Lake Forest Graduate Business School, where he was voted best guest lecturer of the year; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Angelo Geocaris has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Irene; his sons, James, John, and Daniel; his daughter, Connie; his sisters, Tessie Pitt, Carol Argiris, Becky D'Angelo, and Sandra Sneider; his brother James; and his eight grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Angelo Geocaris, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his friends, family, 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 Mr. Geocaris as an expression of our sincere condolences.