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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Jack J. Cerniglia; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jack Cerniglia had a successful 60-year career in
5a highly competitive industry; at age 15, during the Great
6Depression, he began working for the National Tea Company
7grocery chain; by the time he was 17, he was promoted to
8Produce Specialist, where he began to demonstrate his talents
9for merchandising and customer relations; at age 18, he was
10offered the position of store manager for a troubled store and
11asked to turn it around, which he was extremely successful at;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Jack Cerniglia's career was interrupted with the
14start of World War II; he served in the 103rd Infantry 383rd HQ
15Battery as a Mess Sergeant; he saw combat in France, Italy,
16Austria, and Germany, and participated in liberation of the
17infamous Duchow concentration camp; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Following World War II, Jack Cerniglia
19recommitted himself to his grocery career; he taught himself
20produce, meats, groceries, bakery, deli, and more, but his
21passion was always marketing - reading the pulse of the
22customers and meeting their needs; eventually he was

 

 

SR1439- 2 -LRB098 22446 MST 61366 r

1supervising 85 National Tea Company stores in a 3-state region;
2after a 41-year stint with the National Tea Company it was sold
3and he and the company parted ways; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Instead of retiring, Jack Cerniglia embarked on a
5second career; he joined LaPreferida, Inc. - a Chicago-based
6grocery, sprits, and produce company, specializing in ethnic
7markets; he retired at age 90; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Jack Cerniglia is the beloved husband of 63 years
9of Catherine; the loving father of Minnie (Harry) Gunderson,
10Jack (Ellie), and Joe (Cassie); the dearest grandpa of Michael
11(Lora), Michelle (John), Joseph, Matthew, Anne, Meg, Tim, John,
12Michael, and Dan; and the great-grandpa of Nicholas, Sammy,
13Jacob, and Justin; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Jack J. Cerniglia, and extend our sincere condolences to his
17family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Jack Cerniglia as an expression of
21our deepest sympathy.