SR0592 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0592 LRB095 20334 GRL 48110 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to honor the life of former Illinois State Representative and Senator Adeline Geo-Karis of Zion, who passed away on February 10, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was an exemplary lawmaker who was held in the highest regard for her thirty-three years of public service in the Illinois General Assembly, which commenced in the Illinois House of Representatives and concluded in the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Senator Geo-Karis was known as the beloved matriarch of the Senate Chamber and was particularly honored to be recognized as the Dean of the Senate; she was known for her many years of devoted and highly respected service to her State and her country; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was born on March 29, 1918, in Tegeas, Greece; she came to the United States in 1922; in the course of her illustrious life, she became well known as a proud American, political pioneer, and beloved public steward; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis attended Northwestern University; she received her L.L.B. from DePaul University and was the only female in her class; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis devoted many decades to improving the lives of the people of Lake County, working hard throughout her lengthy career to advance the public good and safeguard freedom; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis served as a lieutenant commander with Top Secret Clearance in the United States Naval Reserves, an Assistant State's Attorney, a Justice of the Peace, Mayor of Zion, a State Representative, and a State Senator; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis headed her own law firm in Zion; she was a municipal attorney for Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Libertyville Township, and Long Grove School District, and was elected Justice of the Peace in Lake County; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis broke down many gender walls in the course of her career; she was the first woman ever to be appointed to the position of Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County; she was the first female to be elected Mayor of Zion; she went on to become the first Lake County woman elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was the first woman in Illinois' history ever to serve in the Senate Leadership, serving for ten years as Assistant Senate Majority Leader; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis served as the Minority Spokesman for the Senate Executive Appointments Committee and was one of only two Republican Senators to serve as co-chairperson of a committee in the 94th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was a strong advocate for veterans; she served as Chairperson of the Senate Republican Task Force on Veterans, where she worked to protect our men and women in the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis worked in a bipartisan manner to enact legislation for strong crime control and to benefit veterans, senior citizens, children, people with disabilities, and the working majority; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis pioneered legislation on gasohol, solar energy, and other alternative energy resources, and she was commended for her sponsorship of the Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act, the Alternative Energy Act, and laws to increase safety on Illinois lakes, among many others; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis successfully sponsored and supported important crime-control legislation and was a proud sponsor of the "Guilty but Mentally Ill" law; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was recognized for her commitment and support of Illinois' business community, senior citizens, and agriculture, resulting in better lives and more opportunities for many of her constituents; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis' commitment to aiding and advancing the needs of Illinois' veterans and Armed Forces was a testament to the highest form of compassion, patriotism, and human decency; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was very proud of her American citizenship, yet cherished her Greek heritage, working hard to assist and support the Greek community throughout her public career; and

WHEREAS, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis was a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Waukegan; she was past president of the Parish Board of Trustees and Ladies Auxiliary, and the former choir director; and

WHEREAS, In honor of Senator Adeline Geo-Karis' dedication to the people of Illinois, the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion was renamed after her in 2006; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Senator Adeline Geo-Karis will be mourned greatly by her fellow legislators, admirers, and constituents, who will fondly remember her for her intelligence, compassion, and graciousness; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the loss of Senator Adeline Geo-Karis and honor the memory of this legendary legislator and her many good deeds; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of former Senator Adeline Geo-Karis as an expression of our respect and as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.