SR1042 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1042 LRB103 40908 MST 73898 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joe Vojacek of Oak Park, who passed away on April 24, 2022 at the age of 82; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek was born to Joseph Vojacek Jr. and Camille Sima Vojacek in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek was a lifelong resident of Chicago, though he attended high school in the suburbs at Riverside Brookfield High School and was a part of the class of 1958; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek began his studies in English at North Central College in Naperville before transferring to the University of Chicago, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English; he later earned an Master of Arts in English Literature in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek married his wife, Marti, in 1983, and their household included Marti's three daughters; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek had a long career in teaching, spending most of his time at the Malcolm X College campus of the City Colleges of Chicago, where he earned tenure as a professor of English; he especially enjoyed teaching humanities courses, where he blended literature, film, music, graphic arts, and other cultural representations; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek enrolled in the Ph.D. program in English at Loyola University Chicago but withdrew from the program to pursue his passion for antiquing; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek and his wife traveled the Midwest in search of antique furniture; they valued vintage advertising, artifacts, ephemera, arcade machines, and all things related to history and the practice of stage magic; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek retired from teaching in 2000; he and his wife moved shortly after to Oak Park to spend more time with their grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek enjoyed music, poetry, art, film, photography, and antiquing; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek was preceded in death by his wife, Marti; and

WHEREAS, Joe Vojacek is survived by his stepdaughters, Deborah Morrow, Rebecca Morrow, and Elisabeth Morrow and his step-grandsons, Elias Weinberg and Leo Weinberg; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joe Vojacek and 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 Joe Vojacek as an expression of our deepest sympathy.