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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Zuhair M. ElSaffar, Ph.D., who passed 
4away on August 15, 2020 at the age of 85; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1935; he 
6was awarded a scholarship to study in Britain at 17, where he 
7earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University College of 
8North Wales in Bangor; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar began his teaching career at Michigan 
10State University in the 1960s and continued at the University 
11of Baghdad, teaching physics at both schools; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar was hired by the Oak Ridge National 
13Lab in Tennessee to research nuclear magnetic resonance in 
141965; a year later, he received the honor of leading Iraq's 
15civilian nuclear energy program and returned to Iraq; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar returned to the United States and 
17moved to Chicago in 1968, where he served as a physics 
18professor at DePaul University; he also conducted research for 
19the Argonne National Laboratory; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar moved to River Forest with his family 
 
 
SR1590- 2 -LRB101 23202 LAW 74345 r

1in 1970, and he remained a River Forest resident for the rest 
2of his life; he began investing in real estate in Oak Park, 
3River Forest, and Forest Park in 1977; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar suffered a stroke and retired from 
5DePaul University in 1987; post-retirement, his  
6entrepreneurial spirit continued, and he dedicated a majority 
7of his efforts to his business and investments in the 
8community; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. ElSaffar is survived by his wife, Bushra; his 
10five children, Azhaar, Nadia, Ali, Dena, and Amir; and his two 
11grandchildren, Jamil Moore and Layla Moore; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Zuhair M. ElSaffar, Ph.D. and extend our sincere condolences to 
15his family, 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 Dr. ElSaffar as an expression of our 
19deepest sympathy.