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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3hear of the death of Zachary "Zac" Jacob Plantz, a Frankfort
4native and a lifelong Chicago loyalist, who passed away on
5November 26, 2020 at the age of 27; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz was born to Ronald and Laura (Zoberis)
7Plantz in Oak Lawn on March 18, 1993; he was an early arrival
8weighing 11 pounds and 6 ounces; a chubby, happy baby, he grew
9into a cute and endearing little boy who held a record for ring
10bearer appearances; he spent his childhood roaming Butternut
11Circle, winning football championships for the Frankfort
12Falcons, and playing king of the hill in his swimming pool with
13his three siblings Tyler, Logan, and Abby; and
 
14    WHEREAS, On the football field, Zac Plantz was an intense
15competitor and leader who played alongside his big brother
16Tyler for most of his career; he and his brother worked as
17leaders as only brothers could; he was a beloved member of
18Providence Catholic High School's Class of 2011 and remained a
19faithful and dedicated alumnus and PCHS football fan all his
20life; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Matriculating at his family's alma mater, the
22University of Notre Dame, Zac Plantz's childhood affection for

 

 

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1the Fighting Irish flourished into a lifelong love affair;
2there, his athletic prowess found a new home on the rugby
3pitch, and he found a beloved new family in the Notre Dame
4Rugby Club; known by his teammates for being as strong as "an
5ox in the scrum," he was a stalwart defender who made his
6tackles count and left nothing on the field; the team left its
7mark on his heart, and its crest was permanently inked on his
8upper right thigh; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz's happiest years included those four at
10Notre Dame; he discovered new loves that sustained and shaped
11the rest of his life, including a Notre Dame rugby brotherhood,
12a family in the men of Morrissey Manor/Meat Suite, a stomping
13ground known as Finnis, and a girl named Kathleen; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz graduated from Notre Dame's Mendoza
15College of Business in 2015 with a degree in IT Management; he
16took his first job as a technology consultant at Protiviti in
17downtown Chicago, where he also became co-founder, captain, and
18unofficial social chair of the Kraken Rugby Football Club; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz enjoyed having a competitive job in his
20favorite city in the world, having only a short drive east to
21South Bend to see his brothers Tyler (Tuna) and Logan (Nagol)
22in his favorite college football stadium, having an even
23shorter drive south home to Frankfort where he could watch a

 

 

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1Bears game at Jameson's with his dad, grabbing lunch on
2Francesca's patio with his mom, and reliving his Providence
3glory days through his baby sister Abby's (Frabbers) major
4miles; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz relished Chicago summer nights in
6Chicago on the Rose Angelis patio with his girlfriend and
7partner in crime, affectionately called "Kow"; the couple
8ordered bottles of wine they couldn't afford and every entree
9on the menu as appetizers; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz's journey into adulthood came with a
11new sense of purpose; at the age of 25, he left a successful
12consulting career to pursue his true passion of public service;
13his first foray into politics was a campaign consulting job for
14Jerry Joyce for mayor of Chicago, and he took great pride in
15the campaign and considered it the most rewarding pursuit of
16his career; it sparked a promising new career in politics, or
17as he called it, "sports for grown ups"; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz was a smart, adept consultant, and his
19earnestness, dynamism, and competitive spirit made him an asset
20to any political campaign; most recently, he served as a
21campaign manager and senior policy adviser for Congressman Dan
22Lipinski (IL-03); he was also planning to attend law school
23next year; he was a naturally gifted advocate with unshakable

 

 

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1conviction and immeasurable potential; his death is a
2tremendous loss for a legal community that never got to meet
3him; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz's essence was revealed in his no frills
5wardrobe, comprised of camouflage sweatpants, a ND Hawaiian
6shirt, and an endless supply of bucket hats, as well as the
7wooden Kairos cross he often donned beneath the surface;
8handsome, charming, and a rascal at heart, he had a dapper
9smile, a twinkle in his eye, and the kind of genetic sparkle
10that made him immune to reproach; he was also a man of strong
11faith and conviction with a few hidden soft spots; he read a
12daily devotional every morning before work; he had tears in his
13eyes when the Cubs won the World Series; he poured himself into
14the things he cared about with his whole heart; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz was fun to his core; a well known "ball
16of energy," he was a staple to every good shenanigan, a couch
17buddy always in popular demand, and a staunch advocate for
18celebrating mediocrity; his heyday was the prolific Plantz
19Family tailgate that serves as a precursor to both football
20games and graduations alike; throughout his playful antics, he
21always held had a deep concern for others; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz left this earth with a dirty mustache
23that helped him single-handedly raise over $85,000 and counting

 

 

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1for the Movember Foundation, an organization dedicated to
2improving men's physical and mental health; he was a shepherd
3of sorts for every odd-man-out and was known to bridge the gap
4between old-timers and newcomers; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz had a knack for making old pals out of
6strangers and anyone who spent five minutes with him knew why;
7he was engaging, gregarious, and charismatic; he was a
8fantastic cheerleader; though he will be remembered by many for
9his rallying cries to "late-night," those who knew him best
10will remember him for the sensitivity he displayed while
11listening, the secrets he kept, and the vivid stories he told
12during those after hours bull sessions; while his journey on
13Earth might be over, his legacy will live in the advice he
14gave, the stories he told, and the people he brought together;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz loved traditions; he loved to sing the
17Notre Dame Alma Mater in the stadium after football games, to
18dress up as Santa on Christmas Eve in Grandma Plantz's
19basement, and to drop everything for opening day at Wrigley
20Field and eat as many hot dogs as he could stomach, always
21keeping count; he was stubbornly committed to his childhood
22delights, including venerating Elvis, cherishing birthdays,
23and adhering to the same McDonald's regimen his entire life
24consisting of two McDoubles and an Oreo McFlurry; a little

 

 

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1superstitious at heart, he was always involved in the action of
2Notre Dame and Chicago sports and carried his gambling mantra
3of PVO, positive vibes only, into all aspects of his life; he
4would never sweat the small stuff and loved to remind himself
5and others to relax and live in the moment; and
 
6    WHEREAS, At home, Zac Plantz was considered the energy of
7the family; he added personality, punch, and, most importantly,
8a plan to every family get together; he constantly doted on his
9Grandpa Wally and Grandma Erna and was a jack-of-all-trades in
10their eyes; he was the family ghost-writer, in-house expert on
11all things related to technology, co-captain and skipper of his
12brother Logan's boat, and an everyday Mr. Fix It; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz was many things, including a proud son,
14a loyal friend, a talented athlete, a gifted student, a bright
15consultant, a faithful Catholic, a devoted Irish, and a Bears,
16Cubs, and Blackhawks fan; but above all, his starring role on
17this earth was as a brother; he was exceptionally proud of his
18three siblings, and his life was the most precious gift to
19them; their loss is shared by an army of friends and loved ones
20who will painfully miss him as their own brother; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz was as generous with his brotherly love
22as he was with his good deeds; there was no destination too far
23for him to drive and no repair too tedious for him to fix; to

 

 

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1know him well was to always have him in your corner; he was
2fiercely loyal, and he loved with depth and devotion; his
3family and his friends could always depend on him and still do;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz's last day of life was spent in his
6happy place, which was on a boat with his family in Sanibel
7Island, Florida; at the family's home away from home, he spent
8his last hours with old friends; but his exit from Earth was
9unfitting and unlike him; it was an early and premature
10departure from a party that still had much more in store, and,
11most uncharacteristically, he left behind the people that he
12loved the most; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz was preceded in death by his paternal
14grandmother, Lorraine Plantz; his cousin, Kyle Plantz; and his
15family dog, Domer; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Zac Plantz is survived by his parents; his
17siblings, Tyler (Jay), Logan (Buzz & Mowgli), and Abby; his
18maternal grandparents, Walter and Erna Jean Zoberis; his
19longtime girlfriend, Kathleen Hough; his numerous aunts and
20uncles; his cousins; and his many dear friends; therefore, be
21it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Zachary "Zac" Plantz and extend our sincere condolences to his
3family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
4further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Zac Plantz as an expression of our
7deepest sympathy.