SR0046 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0046 LRB098 07354 MST 37417 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James A. Maloof of Peoria, who passed away on January 19, 2013; and

WHEREAS, James Maloof was born on October 18, 1919, in Peoria to Nimer and Sarah (Zyne) Maloof; he married Gertrude "Trudy" Burson on June 28, 1941, in Peoria; he served in the Air Force during World War II as an Acting Master Sergeant; and

WHEREAS, After being discharged, he returned to the family dry cleaning business and served as president of Maloof Cleaners from 1946 to 1968; in 1969 he began Jim Maloof/Realtor, which became one of the foremost residential real estate firms in the Peoria area; and

WHEREAS, James Maloof was an avid athlete; he played in the Sunday Morning Baseball League for years and enjoyed all sports such as baseball, golf, and fishing; he served in various volunteer activities throughout his life, but was best known for his singing; he sang at hundreds of weddings, funerals, with the Peoria Orpheus Club for 22 years, and he led the Annual Journal Star Christmas Sing at the Peoria Courthouse for 4 decades; and

WHEREAS, James Maloof's crowing achievement was his participation in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; he was first appointed to the ALSAC/St. Jude Board of Directors in 1958 and continued to serve for the rest of his life; in 1960 he initiated the first St. Jude Teen March, started the Memphis to Peoria Run, and created new methods of reaching people for fundraising such as the St. Jude Telethon in Peoria in 1978; he held or attended thousands of St. Jude benefits locally and nationally, representing St. Jude and raising money in over 35 states throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, James Maloof set his sights on the mayorship of Peoria on Thanksgiving Day 1984; he served 3 terms and a total of 12 years; his vision, "Forward Peoria!", consisted of committees of citizens working on various community issues and challenges, which resulted in improvements in the quality of life of those living in Peoria; Peoria was named an all American City by 1989 and again in 1993; after retiring as mayor, Governor Jim Edgar appointed him to the State of Illinois Human Rights Commission, and he was appointed to a second term by Governor George Ryan; and

WHEREAS, James Maloof was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gertrude; his brothers, Abraham, Mitchell, and Fredrick Maloof; and his son, Mark; and

WHEREAS, James Maloof is survived by his sons, J. Michael (Margaret) Maloof and Nicholas (Olga) Maloof; his daughter, Janice Maloof; his grandchildren, Peter Thomas Maloof, Sarah Maloof, Lisa Maloof Hall, Christian Maloof, Katie Maloof, Ethan Maloof, Lydia Maloof, Nick J. Maloof, Micheline Maloof, and Markie-Marie Maloof; his great-grandchildren, Coralie Hall, Iona Hall, Aidan Maloof, Erin Maloof, Meghan Maloof, Stephanie Maloof Britton, and Cassie Maloof Salazar; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James Maloof, and we 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 James Maloof as an expression of our deepest sympathy.