SR0219 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0219 LRB094 12450 CSA 46864 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Alphonse G. Guajardo of Chicago passed away on May 10, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Guajardo was born in the town of Allende in the Mexican state of Coahuila; his father, Francisco, brought the family to Chicago in 1958; and

WHEREAS, He was a quick learner and picked up English while playing baseball and football with the neighborhood children; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in architecture in 1972; his first job was with the leading architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; he lived in the mostly Muslim city of Tehran, Iran, for nearly a year during an assignment for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and found the whole experience fascinating; and

WHEREAS, He established his own firm, Guajardo REC Architects, in 1989 and was the managing principal; he was a champion for economic growth and development in Chicago's Latino neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, He designed numerous Chicago-area buildings, including schools, fire stations, and libraries; he was especially interested in creating low-income housing and developing Spanish-speaking neighborhoods; his firm was responsible for designing the new Jose Clemente Orozco Academy, Zapata Academy, an addition to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, and Pilsen's 18th Street streetscape; and

WHEREAS, He was always proud of his Mexican heritage and respected other cultures and religions; he was raised Catholic and also converted to Judaism; and

WHEREAS, Alphonse G. Guajardo was the beloved husband of Judith (nee Lederman); devoted father of R. Joshua Glenn, Alexandra Ise Guajardo, and Micaela Rose Guajardo; and dear brother of Juan Antonio (Lenore) Guajardo and Isabel (Demetrio) Rojas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we express our sorrow upon the passing of Alphonse G. Guajardo and extend to his family, friends, and community our most heartfelt sympathy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest condolences.