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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Jerome Robert "Jerry" Vainisi of Oak 
4Park, who passed away on October 4, 2021 at the age of 80; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi was born on October 7, 1941 to 
6Anthony and Marie (Delisi) Vainisi, Italian immigrants who 
7settled in Chicago and ran a deli shop near Wrigley Field that 
8was frequented by members of the Chicago Bears football team 
9living nearby; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi grew up in a North Side Chicago 
11apartment, the youngest of four children, and his parents 
12taught their children the values of education, hard work, and 
13accountability, as well as a deep commitment to family; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi worked as a ball boy for the Green 
15Bay Packers while in high school and while his older brother 
16Jack worked as a scout and business manager for the team; he 
17then  went to Georgetown University; after graduation, he  
18became a radio sports broadcaster in Monmouth and later earned 
19a degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, After working as an accountant at Arthur 
21Andersen, Jerry Vainisi began a notable career with the 
 
 
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1Chicago Bears in 1972,  where he  served in multiple roles, 
2including as  controller, treasurer, counsel, and ultimately 
3advancing to general manager in 1983; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi's tenure with the Chicago Bears led 
5to an overall record of 47-17, making them one of the greatest 
6football teams in NFL history and Super Bowl XX Champions in 
71986; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi later served as vice president for 
9player personnel for the Detroit Lions from 1987 to 1990, as 
10co-founder and head of football operations for the World 
11League of American Football (NFL Europe) from 1990 to 1995, as 
12head of the sports and entertainment law group for Hinshaw & 
13Culbertson, and as chairman and chief executive office of 
14Forest Park Bank in 1999; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi was inducted into the Chicagoland 
16Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Italian American Sports 
17Hall of Fame; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi is remembered for his commitment to 
19family, hard work, and generosity; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The Vainisi family enjoyed summer weekends and 
21numerous family occasions and holidays at what was known as 
 
 
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1Papa's Lake House in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi was preceded in death by his 
3parents, Anthony and Marie Vainisi; his brother, Jack 
4(Jacqueline) Vainisi; his sister, Patricia (Jim) Oakes; his 
5grandson, Sam; and his in-laws, Arthur Lane, Pearl Lane, John 
6Nash, Jim Oakes, and Jacqueline Vainisi; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Jerry Vainisi is survived by his wife, Doris 
8(Lane); his brother, Samuel (Gretchen Schmidt D.V.M.) Vainisi 
9D.V.M.; his five children, Mary (Tom) Rogers, Jerry (Tracey), 
10Jack, Mark (Jen), and Melissa Love; and his 14 grandchildren, 
11Tony, Dori (Matt) Boyce, Ben Rogers, Maria, Kate (Scott) 
12Eggleston, Jack, Jerome, Joe, Grace, Nick, Will, Lane Love, 
13and Michael Love; therefore, be it
  
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16Jerome Robert "Jerry" Vainisi and extend our sincere 
17condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
18him; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Jerry Vainisi as an expression of 
21our deepest sympathy.