SR0305 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0305 LRB095 12764 GRL 38132 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Roz Simon of Chicago, who passed away on April 12, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Roz Simon was born in Philadelphia on August 8, 1915; and

WHEREAS, Roz Simon became Miss Philadelphia in 1932, then went on to finish 5th in the Miss America contest; after studying classical ballet and dancing with the Littlefield Ballet Company, she became a member of Radio City Music Hall's famed "Rockettes"; she left show business to teach dance after marrying Henry Biel at the age of 22; on New Year's Day 1952 her husband passed away, leaving her alone to raise her three children; she used her ingenuity and business acumen to form a corporate gifts business that became a family affair, involving both herself and her children in the business operations; and

WHEREAS, In 1954, Roz Simon was introduced to Seymour Simon, an ambitious anti-trust attorney from Chicago who had come to Cleveland to meet a client; they married that same year and settled in Chicago; their marriage would last 52 years; in 1955, her new husband made his first run for alderman, and she quickly proved herself a valuable political ally; as her husband climbed the political ladder, she became a leading voice for charitable causes, including the Chicago Heart Association and Jewish United Fund; she served as president of the Mother's Aid of the University of Chicago's Lying-In Hospital; and she became an accomplished painter who studied under Ed Paschke; and

WHEREAS, Roz Simon was renowned for her incredible cooking skills, and she was known as a "competitive cook", who would conveniently forget a key ingredient while giving out recipes; her cooking entertained many famous people, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Ribicoff, James Michener, and Ted Sorenson; and

WHEREAS, Roz Simon is survived by her sons, John and Anthony; her daughter, Nancy; her 10 grandchildren; her 14 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Mickey Kalter; and

WHEREAS, Roz Simon will be remembered by all who knew and loved her as a down-to-earth and compassionate woman who was a genuine people person; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Roz Simon; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Roz Simon as an expression of our sympathy.