SR0802 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0802 LRB094 21315 HSS 59659 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Sal L. Piazza, MD, FACS, of Naperville and formerly of Chicago on Wednesday, July 19, 2006; and

WHEREAS, He grew up in Chicago in the Roseland community, and his parents were Leo Piazza of Chicago and Angelina (Colletti) of Corleone, Sicily; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Piazza was a graduate of Fenger High School in Chicago, Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, and the University of Illinois Medical School; he did his first years of residency in Peoria at St. Francis Hospital; and

WHEREAS, He married Marilyn Domikaitis on August 20, 1955, and together they shared over 50 years of marriage; and

WHEREAS, He went on to serve in the United States Air Force as a surgeon and medical officer in the late 1950s; he held the rank of captain at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas; and

WHEREAS, Following his military service, he completed his surgical residency at the West Side Veterans Administration Hospital, affiliated with the University of Illinois; he was board-certified in general surgery and was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; and

WHEREAS, During his career, he served in many positions at Edward Hospital in Naperville, including chairman of the Department of Surgery, director of trauma, chief of staff, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of both the hospital and the hospital foundation; he was serving as a member of the board of trustees at Benedictine University in Lisle and the Center for Surgery in Naperville; and

WHEREAS, He was the first recipient of an award named after him at Edward Hospital, the Sal Piazza, MD, Physician Recognition Award, first given on April 29, 2006; the award will be given yearly to a physician that has made an extraordinary contribution to Edward Hospital and the community while demonstrating compassion and integrity; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. Piazza has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Marilyn; his children, Leonard (Debra), David (Elisa), Thomas (Elizabeth), Gina (Thomas Persin), and Daniel (April); his grandchildren, Michelle, Nicholas, Michael, Elizabeth, David, Alex, Emily, Nicole, Vincent, Corinne, Sam, Sallie Persin, Dominic Persin, Brittany Persin, and Kate; and his siblings, Anthony and Rosemary Darnieder; he was preceded in death by his sister, Jacqueline Lateano; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Sal L. Piazza, MD, FACS, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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