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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Luigi "Lou" Cardone, who passed away on
4May 3, 2019 at the age of 71; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lou Cardone was born in Ceglie del Campo, Italy to
6Pasquale and Isabella Cardone on June 11, 1947; he was one of
7nine siblings; in 1955, the family moved to Chicago and lived
8on Taylor Street in the Little Italy neighborhood, later
9settling in Galewood; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Lou Cardone, along with his brother Johnny, bought
11the local Oak Park kosher deli restaurant, the Onion Roll, in
121984 and left an indelible mark on the North Avenue corridor
13and its surrounding communities for 30 years; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Lou Cardone created a community in his deli where
15everyone was welcomed and "people knew who you were and knew
16how you liked your coffee"; any topic could be discussed, from
17lighthearted conversations to deep and robust political
18discussions; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Lou Cardone was known to join the conversations
20and attempt to "solve the problems of the world"; he was a
21no-nonsense person, who was not afraid to "throw a few barbs at

 

 

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1his regular customers" in jest; he gave the impression of being
2an assertive manager with good instincts about people; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In 1988, Lou Cardone found love at his deli when
4his future wife, Judy, walked in to purchase lox and bagels;
5she quickly became a regular at the restaurant; he eventually
6asked for her number, and they married in 1994; in their 31
7years of marriage, they enjoyed taking 42 cruises together; and
 
8    WHEREAS, During his years at the Onion Roll, Lou Cardone
9woke up at 3 a.m. every day to pick up donuts and bagels before
10returning to the restaurant to begin prep for daily service;
11around 7:30 a.m., he returned home to bring his wife a cup of
12coffee with a scribbled love note on the cup; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Under his gruffness, Lou Cardone was sentimental
14with a "heart of gold," a man of integrity, a good person, and
15a better neighbor; during the years he owned the Onion Roll, he
16was pleased to know his community well and hoped his customers
17felt as if they were part of his family; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Lou Cardone was preceded in death by his parents,
19Pasquale and Isabella Cardone, and his siblings, Ralph
20(Darlene) Cardone, Lenny Cardone, and Lena Vasile; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Lou Cardone is survived by his loving wife, Judy

 

 

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1Cardone; his brothers, Johnny Cardone and Frankie (Tina)
2Cardone; his sisters, Lisa (Peter) Capellani, Vita (Jack) De
3Carlo, and Jill Gallo; his daughter, Jennifer; his grandson,
4Brandon; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Luigi "Lou" Cardone and extend our sincere condolences to his
8family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Lou Cardone as an expression of our
12deepest sympathy.