SR0835 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Matthew D. Melucci of Collinsville, who passed away on May 10, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci was born on January 23, 1944, in Belleville, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci earned his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in 1966 and his master's degree from St. Louis University in 1974; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci had a long career in public service which began during his service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps, where he was assigned to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; he served as Madison County's first director of administration under the late Nelson Hagnauer from 1975 to 1979; he also served as first chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello and was named executive director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments in 1979; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci was a 5-term clerk of the Third Judicial Circuit Court; he was first elected to the position in 1992 and was subsequently re-elected in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci served as the chairman of the Madison County Democratic Party; in 2007, he was elected to serve as the Madison County Democratic Party Chairman and was recently re-elected to that post; he was also a member of the Democratic National Committee; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci was a St. Louis Fellow in the Program for Senior Executives of State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and was in the 1977 to 1978 class of the Danforth Foundation's St. Louis Leadership Program; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci was a member of S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion Post 365; he was also a past president of the Collinsville Lions Club and the Italian American Club of Southwestern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci was preceded in death by his parents, Matteo and Antoinette, nee LaBadia, Melucci, and his sister, Maria, nee Melucci, Bainbridge; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Melucci is survived by his nephews, Tom, Tim, Mark, and James Bainbridge; his nieces, Carla Cogdell and Maria Wilckens; his great-niece and great-nephews; his brother-in-law; and his aunts and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Matthew D. Melucci; and be it further

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