SR0414 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0414 LRB103 33380 ECR 63192 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James C. "Jim" Steele of Des Plaines, who passed away on July 18, 2023; and

WHEREAS, James Steele was born to John "Ray" Steele and Ruth Hellen (Elsner) Steele in Sandusky, Ohio on May 14, 1944; and

WHEREAS, Jim Steele was a budding amateur magician in high school, later touring the country professionally at county and state fairs, carnivals, and the Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers Circus; he was also an illusionist, a mentalist, an escape artist, a sword swallower, and a fire eater; throughout the 1960s, he had many opportunities in show business, including small parts in movies and theater; he toured as part of a vaudeville troupe, and he was master of ceremonies in various nightclubs and variety shows in Ohio, New York City, New Jersey, and Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Jim Steele worked as a consultant, writer, and promoter of fine wines; he organized large wine tastings and auctions for various liquor stores in the Chicagoland area; he was a two-time winner of Geja's Annual International Wine Tasting Contest; and

WHEREAS, Jim Steele was a dedicated grandfather who loved dining, traveling, and movie watching with his grandchildren; he will be most remembered for his fun, outgoing nature, and his open and accepting personality; and

WHEREAS, Jim Steele was the husband of the late Nanci Steele for 45 years; the stepfather to Barbra (Richard Spychalski) Versino and the late Robert Versino; the grandfather of Jonathan Spychalski and Emma Spychalski; the brother of Ruth Williams, Mary Sue Clifton, the late Jane Adelman, the late Carol Steele, Johnny Steele, and the late Rose Steele; and the uncle to many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James C. "Jim" Steele and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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