Bill Text: IL SR0579 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Dr. Marvin Zonis.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-10-20 - Resolution Adopted [SR0579 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR0579-Introduced.html

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SR0579 LRB102 20929 ECR 29818 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Dr. Marvin Zonis, who passed away on
November 15, 2020 at the age of 85; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis was born to Leonard and Clara
(Barenberg) Zonis in Boston, Massachusetts on September 18,
1936; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis attended Belmont High School,
during which time he participated in a student exchange
program in Greece; this curiosity about global cultures was
inspired through literature, specifically the works of Richard
Halliburton; ultimately, he became conversationally fluent in
Arabic, Farsi, French, Hebrew, and Italian; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis earned a bachelor's degree from
Yale University, a master's from the Harvard Business School,
and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology; he also completed coursework at the Chicago
Psychoanalytic Institute; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis lived in Tehran, Iran from 1963
to 1965 as part of the research process for his dissertation on
the Iranian political regime; ultimately, he interviewed the

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Shah; this project was covered by the Iranian Press TV; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis discovered that he had family in
Tehran; he helped these relatives immigrate to the United
States where they obtained professional degrees; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis authored books on Middle East
politics and the global economy, including Majestic Failure:
The Fall of the Shah, among others; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis became Nightline anchor Ted
Koppel's go-to expert for help with explaining the Iranian
hostage crisis, which began in 1979; during those 444 days, he
was a frequent interview guest; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis taught for five decades at the
University of Chicago; he worked in the Departments of
Political Science and Comparative Human Development and at the
Center for Middle Eastern Studies; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis was a professor and mentor to
some technological and academic luminaries, including
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the executive director of
Facing History and Ourselves' Chicago Office Maureen
Loughnane; he was also attentive and responsive to minority
student concerns; and

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WHEREAS, Dr. Marvin Zonis possessed brainpower and style;
he was once featured in an ad for the clothing company Bigsby
and Kruthers; and
WHEREAS, At the time of his death, Dr. Marvin Zonis was
survived by his wife, Lucy L. Salenger; his three daughters,
Nadia Zonis, Leah Harp, and Brix Smith Start; and his two
grandchildren; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Dr. Marvin Zonis 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. Marvin Zonis as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.