HR0721 LRB094 15035 DRJ 50182 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois learned with sadness of the recent death of
4 Frank Sparks of Chicago; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Frank Sparks was born May 18, 1934; he married
6 Peggy Willis in 1962, and afterward they lived in South Shore;
7 Frank was the loving father of five children; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks was considered a legend in the Chicago
9 salsa community; after his passing, "salsaleros" young and old
10 fondly remembered the "gentleman" dancer who, even in his
11 eighth decade of life, regularly danced until midnight or later
12 at one of several Chicago salsa clubs; he'd then drive home to
13 his sleeping wife, and the next morning the pair would talk
14 salsa over coffee; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Frank and Peggy met in their 20s while dancing the
16 cha-cha at a South Side club; Peggy remembered that Frank stood
17 out from the rest of the dancers because he was so supple and
18 had a particularly skilled way of spinning and dipping a woman;
19 and
 
20     WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks was a businessman with businesses in
21 South Shore and Hyde Park; for almost three decades, he owned a
22 record store called Scent-n-Sound; he later owned a variety
23 store; and
 
24     WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks had a number of hobbies, including
25 playing pool and cards, but he lived for dance - ballroom,
26 cha-cha, mambo, and salsa, which was his favorite; even though
27 he had a "bum" knee and a "bum" arm, nothing stopped him from
28 enjoying a dance; other dancers often confided in him because
29 they knew he was genuinely interested and wanted to help; he
30 would gently tell a newer salsa dancer to stand up straight and

 

 

HR0721 - 2 - LRB094 15035 DRJ 50182 r

1 listen to the music if he wanted to find the best in the music;
2 and
 
3     WHEREAS, In recent years, Mr. Sparks could often be found
4 at the Buzz nightclub on West Erie; a lanky African-American
5 man with a shaved head, he favored pressed dress pants, an open
6 shirt with a collar, and oxfords - and, sometimes, a white or
7 beige felt cap tilted down to the right; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks had often told his wife that when he
9 died, he hoped it would be on the dance floor; on the night he
10 died, Mr. Sparks was dancing salsa at Green Dolphin Street on
11 Ashland; he had waited a long time for just the right salsa -
12 something mild and romantic, a friend said; after just such a
13 dance, he collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Frank loved his community and made many
15 contributions to society; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The passing of Frank Sparks has been deeply felt
17 by many, especially his wife, Peggy; his children, Leonardo,
18 Vincent, Francesca, Kimberly, and Evelyn; and his nine
19 grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22 we mourn the passing of Frank Sparks, and we extend our deepest
23 sympathy to his family and friends and to all who knew and
24 loved him; and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to Frank Sparks' family as an expression of our
27 sincere condolences.