SR1590 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1590 LRB101 23202 LAW 74345 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Zuhair M. ElSaffar, Ph.D., who passed away on August 15, 2020 at the age of 85; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1935; he was awarded a scholarship to study in Britain at 17, where he earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University College of North Wales in Bangor; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar began his teaching career at Michigan State University in the 1960s and continued at the University of Baghdad, teaching physics at both schools; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar was hired by the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee to research nuclear magnetic resonance in 1965; a year later, he received the honor of leading Iraq's civilian nuclear energy program and returned to Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar returned to the United States and moved to Chicago in 1968, where he served as a physics professor at DePaul University; he also conducted research for the Argonne National Laboratory; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar moved to River Forest with his family in 1970, and he remained a River Forest resident for the rest of his life; he began investing in real estate in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park in 1977; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar suffered a stroke and retired from DePaul University in 1987; post-retirement, his entrepreneurial spirit continued, and he dedicated a majority of his efforts to his business and investments in the community; and

WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar is survived by his wife, Bushra; his five children, Azhaar, Nadia, Ali, Dena, and Amir; and his two grandchildren, Jamil Moore and Layla Moore; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Zuhair M. ElSaffar, Ph.D. 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 Dr. ElSaffar as an expression of our deepest sympathy.