Bill Text: IL SR0413 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Ralph J. Coletta.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-11-10 - Resolution Adopted [SR0413 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SR0413-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Ralph J. Coletta, who passed away on
October 19, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was born on December 13, 1921, in
Chillicothe; his parents were Cesidio and Assunta Aromatario
Coletta; he married Ethel Mary Meyers on November 19, 1949, at
St. Bernard Catholic Church in Peoria; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was a graduate of Chillicothe Grade
School and Peoria High School; he then earned his bachelor's
degree from Bradley Polytechnic Institute, now Bradley
University, and his doctorate in law from the University of
Chicago Law School in 1949; he then passed his bar examination
that same year; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta served his country with pride and
distinction as a member of the United States Army during World
War II; after graduating from the United States Army Infantry
School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was commissioned as a
lieutenant of infantry; he served in the South Pacific Theater
of Operations until the surrender of Japanese forces, when he
served with the United States Army of Occupation in Japan as a
Japanese language interpreter with the general headquarters of

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Gen. Douglas MacArthur; he also served at the Fifth Army
headquarters at Fort Sheridan, and as a reserve officer from
1948 to 1949; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta founded the family law firm in
Peoria in 1950, being later joined in the practice of law by
his sons, Joseph and Robert; he served as a lawyer for more
than 55 years and was recognized as a senior counselor by the
Illinois State Bar Association in 2000; he was admitted to
practice before all Illinois courts and the Supreme Court of
the United States; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta served as assistant state's
attorney of Peoria County from 1952 to 1956; he later served as
vice chairman of the Business and Commercial Law Committee of
the American Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was a member of the American, State
of Illinois, Chicago, and Peoria County Bar Associations; he
served as a hearing officer for the Illinois Pollution Control
Board from 1970 to 1975; he was also a member of Land of
Lincoln Packards and Packard Automobile Association, the
Italian American Society, the American Legion Peoria Post No. 2
and the 40 et 8 of the Legion, the Knights of Columbus, Mount
Hawley Country Club, the Union League Club of Chicago, the
Creve Coeur Club of Peoria, the Bradley University B Club, the

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Bradley Chiefs Club, and Lakeview Museum; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was active in the development of
real estate in the Peoria area and served as president of 2
real estate development organizations, the White Star
Corporation and as a general partner of The Ralet Limited
Partnership and Mark Tidd Inc; he was a former director of the
Illinois Valley Savings and Loan Association for many years and
was a founding director and officer in Wheels O'Time Museum; he
also served as a director of the Peoria Regional Museum
Society; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was a former director of St. Jude
Midwest Affiliate and an adviser to the Peoria Area Blind
People's Center; he was a former Republican Precinct
Committeeman for 10 years and was a Republican delegate to
Illinois; he was a former member of the Peoria Junior Chamber
of Commerce and the Peoria Chamber of Commerce; he was also a
Mass Lector and served on the Parish Council at St. Philomena
Catholic Church, where he was a member for many years; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was preceded in death by his
parents; his daughter, Renee Joers; his brother, John; and his
grandson, Adam Ahitow; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta is survived by his wife; his

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children, Jeanie Caskey (Barry Stortz), Michele (Dan) Smith,
Robert (Valencia) Coletta, Marianne (Pete) Hoener, Suzanne
(Vince) Kennedy, and Joseph (Debra); his 14 grandchildren; his
2 great-granddaughters; and his great-grandson; therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
his family and friends, the passing of Ralph J. Coletta; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Ralph Coletta as an expression of
our sympathy.