Bill Text: IL SR0482 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Sriram Sonty, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2025-10-31 - Resolution Adopted [SR0482 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SR0482-Introduced.html

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SR0482 LRB104 15835 LAW 29047 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Sriram Sonty, M.D., F.A.C.S., who
passed away on June 8, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty was born in Ramachandrapuram, East
Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India on July 10, 1946; he
studied medicine at Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam
from 1963 to 1969, and he interned at King George Hospital in
Visakhapatnam; he then completed his post-graduation studies
and residency in ophthalmology at the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India in 1974; he married
Susarla Sarada Purna on February 27, 1975; he moved to the
United States in May 1975; he obtained further training in
ophthalmology at Tufts Medical Center, the Boston Children
Medical Center of Harvard University, and the University of
Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Infirmary; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty served on the faculty at Tufts Medical
Center; he later moved to Chicago, where he became a faculty
member at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Eye Center
and a clinical associate professor at the UIC Glaucoma
Service; he served as a senior academic consultant at the King
Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; he was
assistant director of the Department of Ophthalmology at

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Boston Veterans' Hospital from 1978 to 1980; he was
founder/director of the glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology
sections at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India
from January to December 1989; he served as regional
director/chair of the Department of Ophthalmology of
Humana/Michael Reese Health plans from 1993 to 1997; he began
serving as director/glaucoma consultant with Midwest Eye
Center SC in 1998; more recently, he started a glaucoma
lecture series in 2016; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty served as a presenter at various
national and international meetings and events, including the
American Academy of Ophthalmology, the All India Ophthalmic
Society, the International Congress of Ophthalmology, the Asia
Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, World Glaucoma Congress, and
the International Glaucoma Society, and he was a speaker for
Allergan, Alcon, Pfizer, and Merck; his writing was part of
over 125 publications, including both peer-reviewed and
non-peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and abstracts, and
he conducted symposia, seminars, and grand rounds for various
organizations at various events; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty held leadership positions in many
organizations, including serving as founder/trustee of the LV
Prasad Eye Institute, as president of the Matteson Rotary
Club, the Sonty Renaissance International Foundation, and the

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Andhra Medical College Alumni of North America (AMCANA), as
chairman of the AMCANA Board of Trustees, and as a member of
the President's Council of UIC, the Illinois Eye Fund Board,
Congressman Danny K. Davis' Advisory Task Force, and the
Governors State University (GSU) Foundation Board; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty received honors from a number of
organizations, including the American Academy of
Ophthalmology, the Indian Glaucoma Society, the American
Telugu Association (ATA), the Telugu Association of North
America (TANA), the Telugu Association of Greater Chicago, the
Tristate Telugu Association, and the Vanguri Foundation; he
was also the recipient of the Vamsee Arts International
Lifetime Achievement Award; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty remained committed to promoting and
honoring his Indian cultural heritage, serving as trustee of
the Gandhi Memorial Trust in Skokie and as founder and
chairman of the Sri Annamacharya Project of North America
(SAPNA) and the Sonty Renaissance International Foundation; he
presented numerous presentations on Gandhi's life and legacy;
alongside his wife, Dr. Sarada Purna Sonty, he completed 32
years of service to Indian classical music, dance, and
literature; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty and his wife donated significantly to

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several major institutions, including the LV Prasad Eye
Institute, the SVS Temple of Aurora, the UIC Foundation, the
Chicago Symphony Center, the GSU Scholarship Fund, the Rotary
International Foundation, the NIMHANS Brain Bank, and the
Vegesna Foundation, among many more; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty will be remembered for his impact on
the profession of ophthalmology and his service as a mentor to
many in the field; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonty was the husband of Dr. Sarada Purna
Sonty, Ph.D., Ph.D., D.Litt.; the father of Dr. Sreepadma
Priya "Siri" Sonty, M.D. and Sreelakshmi Sita "Sita" Sonty;
and the grandfather of Jairam Aidan Taggart and Ananda Skylar
Taggart; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Sriram Sonty, M.D., F.A.C.S. 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 Dr. Sonty as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.