HR0051 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0051 LRB097 09824 KXB 49980 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Guy Anthony Renzaglia, who passed away on November 4, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Guy Renzaglia was a beloved father, grandfather, family member, friend, teacher, and colleague without compare, and a champion for those in need, with a legacy reaching across southern Illinois and to every corner of our great nation; and

WHEREAS, Guy enlisted to serve his country during World War II, finished first in the Officer Candidate School in the Army Air Corps, and served with distinction during five years in uniform, and like many of his peers in the Greatest Generation, he returned home and attended college on the GI Bill; and

WHEREAS, Guy, the son of Italian immigrants, was an accomplished athlete and scholar, a member of the George Washington University Hall of Fame, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at George Washington University, and his Master's degree in physical education at the University of Minnesota; he subsequently earned his second Master's degree in psychology and his doctorate in counseling psychology; and

WHEREAS, Guy had a vision to provide support to underserved persons and applied his determination and wisdom to develop the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, making it one of the few universities in the country at the time to provide services for the blind, deaf, and persons using wheelchairs; and

WHEREAS, Through his strength and charisma the Rehabilitation Institute became a nationally acclaimed program which trained more than 1,000 professionals in rehabilitation and mental health services; and

WHEREAS, Guy retired from 23 years of service to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and at the age of 60 started a partnership with two friends, Ted Wichman and Skip Cosgrove, and began a vineyard and winery later known as Alto Vineyards; and

WHEREAS, People from across the globe have come to southern Illinois to sample the brilliant wines and warm hospitality of Alto Vineyards, seeing and tasting for themselves the labor of love which Guy passed along to his son Paul Renzaglia, a love for life and for people which is evident in every delicious sip; and

WHEREAS, Alto Vineyards has served as the model for dozens of other wineries and as the birthplace of the wine industry in Illinois; the State now boasts some 90 working wineries and hundreds of acres of vineyards, bringing Illinois national respect as a wine producing region enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year; and

WHEREAS, Our hearts are heavy but we rejoice in the time Guy Renzaglia shared in our lives, we are comforted by the knowledge that Guy's memory will never leave the fertile and beautiful rolling hills of southern Illinois, and the wonderful people of this area and the Southern Illinois University community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and a grateful nation, the passing of Guy Renzaglia; and be it further

RESOLVED, That that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Guy Renzaglia as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.