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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Alexander George "Lex" Samaras of
4Danville, who passed away on October 28, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Alexander Samaras was born to George Argerios and
6Edna Margaret (Hullinger) Samaras on June 29, 1921; he
7graduated from John Greer High School in Hoopeston and Illinois
8State University with a bachelor's degree in music, where he
9lettered in varsity tennis; he married Carolyn Jean Brown on
10December 26, 1943; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Alexander Samaras served in the United States Navy
12during World War II; he took part in the invasion of Normandy
13(D-Day) on June 6, 1944 as a commanding officer of Landing
14Craft Tank (LCT 709) at Utah Beach; he served as executive
15officer of the Landing Craft Support (LCS 81) at the invasion
16of Okinawa on April 1, 1945 and in the occupation of Japan upon
17the end of World War II; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Following the war, Alexander Samaras studied
19music at Juilliard in New York City and completed his master's
20degree in music at Columbia University; he taught music in
21Illinois at Princeville High School, Fairbury High School,
22Highland Park High School, Hoopeston High School, Milford

 

 

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1Township High School, and Schlarman High School; he was also
2involved in the restaurant business as the owner of the Ritz in
3Hoopeston with his father George, the Ritz in Watseka, and the
4Coach House in Elkhorn, Wisconsin; later in life, he served as
5a bailiff at the Vermilion County Courthouse; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Alexander Samaras was a member of the Hoopeston
7School Board, the Hoopeston Chamber of Commerce, Hoopeston
8American Legion Post 384, and Danville VFW 3510, where he also
9served as commander; he was a 32nd Degree Mason and director of
10the Danville Masonic Men's Choir; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Alexander Samaras was preceded in death by his
12wife, Carolyn; his parents; his son, Paul A. Samaras; his
13sister, Pauline (Samaras) Hughes; and his brother-in-law, Gus
14Coukoulis; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Alexander Samaras is survived by his sons, David
16Samaras and Mark (Julie) Samaras; his daughter, Nancy (Thomas)
17Fahey; his daughter-in-law, Anne Samaras; his sister, Helen
18(Samaras) Coukoulis; his brother, William G. (Patsy) Samaras;
19his grandchildren, Trace (Sarah) Johnson, Catherine (Kyle)
20Neumann, Georgianna Samaras, Christopher Samaras, Rebecca
21LaPiana, Jennifer (Rich) Famiglietti, Christianne (John Wood)
22Samaras, Alexander D. Samaras, Alexander P. Samaras, and
23Carolyn (Mike) Austin; and his great-grandchildren, Freddie

 

 

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1Famiglietti, Sammy Famiglietti, Alexa LaPiana, Paige Wood,
2Kaleb Neumann, Kamryn Neumann, Zoe Austin, and Jacob Austin;
3therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6Alexander George "Lex" Samaras, and extend our sincere
7condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
8him; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Alexander Samaras as an expression
11of our deepest sympathy.