SR0104 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0104 LRB098 10897 GRL 41424 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John N. Bellcoff, formerly of Madison, who passed away on February 17, 2013; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff was born on June 6, 1922, in Madison; his parents were Naum and Dana Bellcoff; he married Diana Nickoloff on September 20, 1959, in Madison; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff graduated from Madison High School in 1940; he subsequently attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he majored in political science while working with his father at Bellcoff and Son Grocery in Madison; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff was drafted and served his country as a member of the United States Army in World War II; he served in the European theater and attained the rank of staff sergeant; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff began his banking career at the First National Bank in Madison, where he retired as Vice President in 1993; he served as a fireman in Madison for 21 years and served as Assistant Fire Chief; he also worked at Sedlack Funeral Home in Madison and assisted other funeral homes in the community for many years; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff's political career began in 1951, when he was first elected to the Madison School Board; he served on the school board for 19 years and served as School Board President for 15 of the 19 years; in 1967, he was elected to the position of City Clerk of the City of Madison; he served as City Clerk for 18 years until 1985, when he was elected to serve as Mayor, where he remained until his retirement in 1997; he also served as Madison County Democratic Chairman from 1990 to 1994; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff also served the citizens of Madison County and the surrounding Metro East/Bi-State Area; he served on the Madison County Board of Review from 1957 to 1961 and the Tri-City Regional Port District from 1963 to 1997; he was a charter member of the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission from 1968 to 2013; he was a past president of the Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission and the Bi-State Development Agency; he was also an executive board member of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the St. Elizabeth's Medical Center Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff was a longtime member of numerous organizations, including Madison Amvets, VFW, the American Legion, Madison Lions Club, St. Mary's Men's Booster Club, Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 222, Masonic Lodge, DeMolay Legion of Honor, and the Ainad Temple Shrine; in 2000, he was bestowed the Shrine's Highest Honor of 33rd Degree; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church in Madison and served on the church's board for over 45 years; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff was preceded in death by his beloved parents; his two sisters, Dina Blattner and Sylvia Reeves; his in-laws, Elia and Yagna Nickoloff, his brothers-in-law, Nick E. Nickoloff, Christ E. Nickoloff, John E. Nickoloff, Steve E. Nickoloff, and Matthew Blattner; and his sister-in-law, Helen Nickoloff; and

WHEREAS, John Bellcoff is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Diana; his daughters and son-in-law, Kathy and Tim Childers and Norma L. Bellcoff; his grandson, John; his very special dachshund, "Skeeter"; his brother-in-law, Robert Don Reeves; his sisters-in-law, Mary Nickoloff, Elsie Nickoloff, and Ellen Nickoloff; and his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of John Bellcoff; and be it further

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