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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Raymond Joseph Smith of Chicago, who
4passed away on January 18, 2024 at the age of 92; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith had a one-of-a-kind personality and
6was the first to achieve many things over the course of his
7storied life; he was the first person to earn a tennis
8scholarship from the University of Notre Dame and was even
9voted into Notre Dame's Sports Hall of Fame; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith received a scholarship from
11Northwestern Law School and was commissioned as a first
12lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Corps; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith's army career continued his love
14for tennis when he represented the United States at the
15Wimbledon qualification, the main event in both Barcelona and
16Rome, and in Class A at Roland Garros; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith also met his wife, Lore Stoffel,
18while serving in the military; they had two children together,
19Chris and Leslie, who were the pride and joy of both their
20lives; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith's life work was as a trial lawyer,
2and he maintained that no other profession interested him; his
3time as a trial lawyer took many turns, but it always involved
4his relentless dedication; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith's time as an Assistant United
6States Attorney during the 1960s included a case involving Red
7Donovan, the right-hand man of Jimmy Hoffa, former head of the
8Teamsters; for his work on this case, he and his co-counsel
9were congratulated in Chicago by United States Attorney
10General Robert Kennedy; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith never lost sight of his dedication
12to helping people in need; even after leaving the U.S.
13Attorney's office, he continued his career by serving people
14as an ex-officio federal public defender without compensation;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith's forward thinking ideas were also
17centered around a deep appreciation for the city that raised
18him, but no love was stronger than the love he showed his wife,
19children, and grandchildren, all of whom filled him with
20pride; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Raymond Smith is survived by his children and his
22grandchildren, Emily, Max, Ian, and Sasha; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Raymond Joseph Smith and extend our sincere condolences to his
4family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Raymond Smith as an expression of
8our deepest sympathy.