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1
SENATE RESOLUTION



2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Joe DeMay of the Sun City retirement 
4community in Huntley, who passed away on July 31, 2015; and


5 WHEREAS, Joe DeMay was born in Palermo,
Sicily on October 
622, 1933 to Vincenzo
and Vincenza Chichirillo Iannacco;
his 
7father passed away in 1935, his mother married Anthony
DeMay, 
8and the family moved to
Jeannette, Pennsylvania; in the summer 
9of
1951, they relocated to Harvard; he graduated from Harvard

10High School in 1953 and enlisted
in the United States Marine 
11Corps; he was
stationed at the U.S. Navy Atomic
Testing Base 
12outside of Las Vegas, Nevada
for 2 years; he married Judy 
13Simonini on September l,
1956 at St.
Joseph's Church in 
14Harvard; and


15 WHEREAS, Joe DeMay was employed by the Admiral
Television 
16Corporation in Harvard in
various management positions from

171956 until the plant's closing in
1980; he then was Quality 
18Control
Manager at General Power and
Equipment for 12 years; 
19and


20 WHEREAS, Joe DeMay served as Harvard Community
Credit Union 
21President and Treasurer
for 30 years; he was active in a
number 
22of civic matters, including
serving as a Harvard City Alderman

 
 
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1for 23 years and as City Treasurer
for 7 years; he was Chairman 
2of
Harvard's Bicentennial Commission
in honor of the nation's 
3bicentennial
celebration; he was heavily involved in
Harvard's 
4annual Milk Days, serving
as General Chairman, as Parade 
5Chairman,
and on their Executive Board
for 20 years; he was a 
6member of
the Harvard Lions Club for 30 years,
with 28 years of 
7perfect attendance; he received the 1969 Harvard JayCee 
8Distinguished Service Award; he was a member of the Harvard

9Moose Lodge for 35 years and a member
of the Harvard Historical 
10Society; he served on the Harvard Library
Board for 7 years and 
11on the Chamber
of Commerce Board; and

12 WHEREAS, In 1999, Joe DeMay and his wife moved to
the Sun 
13City retirement community in Huntley to enjoy their
retirement 
14years; while there, he
was a charter member of the Italian

15American Club, served as President
of the Pinochle Club, and 
16was a member
of the Bocce Club, the Bowling Club, and
the 
17Polish Club; he was a member of St.
Mary's Catholic Church in 
18Huntley; he and his wife loved to travel and
particularly 
19enjoyed taking cruises; they
travelled within the United States

20and to many countries around the
world; his interests included 
21playing
pinochle, golf, and bocce; he was
a talented artist and 
22a great cook; and


23 WHEREAS, Joe DeMay was preceded in death by his
parents and 
24his parents-in-law,
Louis and Esther Simonini; and


 
 
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1 WHEREAS, Joe DeMay is survived by his wife, Judy; his 
2daughter, Debbie Reising; his son, Joe (Kendra); his 
3grandchildren, Angela Reising, Steve (Sonia) Reising, and 
4Tatum DeMay; his great-grandchildren, Giovanni, Giada, and 
5Georgia Reising; his brother, Tony; his brothers-in-law, Bob 
6(Jennet) Simonini and Bill (Mary Jane) Simonini; and several 
7nieces and nephews; therefore, be it


8 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
10Joe DeMay, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, 
11friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further


12 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13presented to the family of Joe DeMay as an expression of our 
14deepest sympathy.