SR1268LRB100 15821 ALS 31320 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, the members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Raymond Zotti, who passed away on October
418, 2017 at the age of 100; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti was born on September 3, 1917 and
6was a native of the South Side of Chicago until 1966, when he
7moved to Oak Park; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti, following in his father's
9footsteps, worked in railroading, first for the New York
10Central System, where he was chief clerk in the master
11mechanic's office, and later with the Association of American
12Railroads; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti was a union man to the core and
14served for many years as financial secretary of his local of
15the Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti's lifelong passion, taken up in his
17teens, was racing homing pigeons, about which he could speak
18for hours; among his proudest achievements, his pigeons came
19"first in city" twice in weekly races; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti and his birds were featured in the

 

 

SR1268- 2 -LRB100 15821 ALS 31320 r

1suburban Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, and on ABC7
2News with Frank Mathie; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti and his late wife, Mary Irene,
4renovated two homes, the first in Chicago's Austin neighborhood
5and the second in Oak Park, where the couple raised six
6children; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti was an artist who produced beautiful
8drawings; he was also a talented musician, who periodically
9entertained the family with impromptu piano recitals that
10invariably concluded with a bravura rendition of "Under the
11Double Eagle"; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti was noted for his stubborn
13perfection and his bold, attractive handwriting; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti kept his wits about him until the
15end; when told he deserved a beer after struggling up the front
16steps with the aid of his sons and grandson following Mary
17Irene's funeral in 2015, he said, "Make it two"; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti was preceded in death by his beloved
19and patient wife, Mary Irene; his dear sister, Marie, and her
20husband, William Hansen; his sister-in-law, Mary Anne Zotti;
21and his loving son-in-law, Thomas Gavin; and
 

 

 

SR1268- 3 -LRB100 15821 ALS 31320 r

1    WHEREAS, Raymond Zotti is survived by his siblings, Tom,
2Albert, and Blanche; his children, Edward (Mary Lubben), Robert
3(Barbara), John (Christine), Eileen (David) Wargo, Margaret
4(Michael Leonetti) Gavin, and William (Allison) Zotti; his
5grandchildren, Ryan (Betty), Ani and Andrew Lubben Zotti,
6Michael, Matthew (Frances), Shayne, Kevin and Brian Zotti, Jack
7(Suzy), Margaret, and Patrick Zotti, David and Laura Wargo,
8Kristine and Shannon Gavin, and Christopher (Rachel), Emily,
9and Matthew Zotti; his great-grandchildren, Olivia, Jane, and
10Henry Zotti and Liam Zotti; many nieces and nephews; and his
11devoted caregiver, Nenita Johnson; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14Raymond Zotti, and extend our sincere condolences to his
15family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
16further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Raymond Zotti as an expression of
19our deepest sympathy.