SR0744 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0744 LRB094 20486 HSS 58750 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Berardo J. "Dee" DeSimone Sr. of Elmhurst, the former regional superintendent of schools in DuPage County, on April 26, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Mr. DeSimone was born to Italian immigrant parents and raised in Chicago; he attended Crane Tech High School; after his graduation in 1944, he attended Iowa State University on a football scholarship and received his associate's degree in education; he also played baseball and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox; and

WHEREAS, While at Iowa State, Mr. DeSimone suffered an injury and returned home, where he attended DePaul University; from 1948 through 1950 he was a teacher with the Chicago Board of Education; he earned his bachelor of science degree in education at DePaul in 1949; he went on to receive his doctorate from Rhode Island University and completed coursework at Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, and Loyola University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. DeSimone was drafted into the Army in 1950; a year later, while on leave, he married Sally Rose, whom he met while dancing at the Paradise Ballroom; after his Army service, he joined Berkeley School District 87 in 1952; and

WHEREAS, Mr. DeSimone served the District a total of 22 years, as teacher, assistant principal, director of the physical education department, business manager, assistant superintendent, and superintendent; while serving as a principal in 1958, shortly after the Our Lady of the Angels fire that killed 92 students and three nuns in Chicago, he helped develop and write the State's life safety codes; and

WHEREAS, Mr. DeSimone joined the Illinois State Board of Education as an educational specialist in 1974; he became assistant regional superintendent of schools in DuPage County in 1976; he was first appointed to the post of regional superintendent in 1985 and served through 2003; he never faced an opponent for election or re-election; and

WHEREAS, As one of the 45 statewide regional superintendents, Mr. DeSimone acted as an intermediary between the 43 county school districts and the Illinois State Board of Education; he helped shape new programs for the districts, including the development of the DuPage Area Vocational Education Association, now the DuPage Area Occupational Education System; and

WHEREAS, Mr. DeSimone also served as chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education Health and Life Safety Advisory Board committee and was a former Illinois Building Commission member; he was preceded in death by his wife and a son, Joseph; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Berardo J. "Dee" DeSimone Sr. is deeply felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his surviving sons, Berardo Jr. and Neil; his sister, Anne; and his 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Berardo J. DeSimone Sr., and we extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Berardo J. DeSimone Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.