HR1463 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1463 LRB096 24191 GRL 43633 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Bassam Hanna Naoum; and

WHEREAS, Bassam Naoum was born in Amman, Jordan, on February 22, 1951; his parents were Hanna Naoum and Zakieh Ibrahim; he married Phoebe Naoum (nee Tudor) in 1978 in Huntsville, Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Bassam Naoum came to America in 1970 in search of an education and a new life; after arriving in Chicago, he subsequently attended Snead State Junior College in Alabama; during this time, he alternated between working in Chicago and taking classes in Alabama each semester; and

WHEREAS, Two months after their marriage, Bassam Naoum and his wife moved to Chicago, where he graduated from DePaul University; for the next 10 years, he worked within the hotel industry and spent his free time traveling, enjoying restaurants, and socializing with his friends; in 1988, Bassam and Phoebe's first child, Noelle, was born, followed by their second child, Farris, in 1990; and

WHEREAS, In order to pursue his dream of owning a business, Bassam Naoum opened his first store in Cabrini Green in 1993 called "Ollie's", a name which stuck and became his nickname; he quickly became a part of the Cabrini community and participated in various events, such as the "Back to School Picnic" and the community Thanksgiving Dinner; and

WHEREAS, Bassam Naoum was well known in his neighborhood for helping those in need of help in any way possible, emotionally or financially; he will be remembered fondly by his family as a loving father and husband who would do anything for his family and friends and as a gregarious man with a wonderful sense of humor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Bassam Hanna Naoum; and be it further

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