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91_HR0954
LRB9115086RHrh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to express their sincere condolences to
4 the family and friends of Rochelle Zell, who passed away on
5 September 6, 2000; and
6 WHEREAS, Rochelle Zell played an influential role in how
7 the Holocaust has been remembered in North America and had a
8 significant impact on Jewish education in Chicago; and
9 WHEREAS, Rochelle Zell was the strongly opinioned
10 matriarch of one of the most prominent families in Chicago,
11 well known for business, real estate and financial dealings;
12 that rise to prominence was a remarkable turnaround for Mrs.
13 Zell, who in 1939 fled with her husband, the late Bernard
14 Zell, from their home in Poland during the Holocaust; and
15 WHEREAS, Given her husband's contributions to the
16 community and the impact her children have had, Mrs. Zell
17 spent most of her life in the sidelight, quietly supporting
18 Jewish causes through volunteerism and financial gifts; and
19 WHEREAS, Mrs. Zell's contributions to Holocaust
20 remembrance and Jewish education in the last two decades have
21 been significant, therefore it was only fitting that a
22 memorial was dedicated to Rochelle Zell and her husband
23 Bernard; the Bernard and Rochelle Zell Holocaust Memorial was
24 the first Holocaust memorial in North America since 1975; the
25 memorial was expanded and rededicated in 1993; and
26 WHEREAS, Mrs. Zell cared about Jewish education, the
27 continuity of tradition and for the survival of the values
28 she grew up with; and
29 WHEREAS, Known for her commanding intellect and a vast
30 store of knowledge bolstered by her constant poring over of
31 weighty tomes, Mrs. Zell was a habitual presence in formal
-2- LRB9115086RHrh
1 discussions in Chicago and Jewish religious texts and Middle
2 Eastern policy; she was a regular attendee of Anshe Emet
3 Synagogue; and
4 WHEREAS, Rochelle Zell was a model of modern Jewish life;
5 she had an Old World way about her which caused her to
6 dedicate her life to educating others on the impact of the
7 Holocaust; and
8 WHEREAS, The passing of Rochelle Zell will be deeply felt
9 by all who knew and loved her, especially her children,
10 Samuel Zell, Julie Baskes and Leah Wanger; her sister, Ann
11 Rudzin; 8 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren;
12 therefore be it
13 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15 we mourn, along with all who knew her, the death of Rochelle
16 Zell of Chicago, Illinois; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to the family of Rochelle Zell.