HR0471LRB101 12896 ALS 61731 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Gene
4"Coach Ping" Pingatore of Westchester, who passed away on June
526, 2019; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was born to Frank and Annette
7Pingatore on October 12, 1936; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was the coach of the St. Joseph
9High School basketball team, the Chargers; the most successful
10coach in Illinois high school basketball history, he had a
11record of 1035-383 in 50 years; he coached NBA stars Isiah
12Thomas and Evan Turner and three McDonald's All-Americans,
13Isaiah Thomas, Daryl Thomas, and Daryl Cunningham; he had a
14starring role in the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams; and
 
15    WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Gene Pingatore was
16coaching at the Riverside-Brookfield shootout and was planning
17to start his 51st season at the helm of the Chargers'
18basketball program; under his guidance, the Chargers were one
19of the state's best teams, winning two state championships,
20advancing to the state finals six times, and winning 13
21sectionals; in 2017, he was honored with a massive celebration
22by the school when he won his 1,000th game; and
 

 

 

HR0471- 2 -LRB101 12896 ALS 61731 r

1    WHEREAS, As a coach, Gene Pingatore valued "the
2relationships that were developed"; according to the IHSA
3Executive Director, "the number of students he impacted during
4his career is immeasurable"; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was the loving father of Lisa
6(Mike) Crispo, the proud grandfather of Erin, Kelli, and Jack,
7the beloved fiance of Jill Oakley, the proud uncle of Frank
8(Kristin) Kasprzak, Nick Kasprzak, and the late Robert E.
9Kasprzak, the loving son of the late Annette and Frank, the
10dear brother of the late Sandra, and the brother-in-law of
11Robert Kasprzak; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we mourn the passing of Gene "Coach Ping" Pingatore and extend
15our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
16knew and loved him; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Gene Pingatore as an expression of
19our deepest sympathy.