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91_SR0136
LRB9106873KBkb
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Don "Duke" Monico, who recently
4 passed away; and
5 WHEREAS, Don Monico was born on the east side of Chicago;
6 on November 7, 1936 he married his wife, Lucy; Don Monico
7 served in the United States Army in World War II, and while
8 serving as a medic in the infantry he ran to save a wounded
9 soldier and was struck in the back and arm by Japanese
10 machine gun fire; he was wounded on the South Pacific Island
11 of Bougainville, The British Solomon Islands; and
12 WHEREAS, As a result of his injuries Don Monico spent two
13 years in veterans hospitals recovering; he lost the use of
14 his left arm and hand due to the severity of his injuries and
15 was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart; after the
16 war he went to work for the Veterans Administration and spent
17 26 years serving as a personnel officer at the VA Westside
18 Hospital in Chicago; and
19 WHEREAS, For his work with and on behalf of disabled
20 veterans, Don Monico was awarded numerous times, including,
21 the J.E. Fogarty Public Personnel Award for Distinguished
22 Service in 1972; this award was presented by then-President
23 Richard Nixon and honored the federal, state, or municipal
24 employee who did the most in 1972 to promote the hiring of
25 the handicapped; and
26 WHEREAS, In addition he received the Handicapped Veteran
27 of the Year in 1971 presented by the State of Illinois
28 Governor's Committee; he received the Commander's Award for
29 exceptional contributions to aid and assist worthy wartime
30 disabled veterans in 1992 by the Disabled American Veterans;
31 he received the Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Service
32 to the Disabled in 1966 by the Disabled American Veterans; he
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1 received the Citation for Meritorious Service presented by
2 the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped in
3 1973; and he received a Commendation for 34 years of
4 outstanding federal service by the Veterans Administration in
5 1976; and
6 WHEREAS, Don Monico was an accomplished toastmaster,
7 organizing and emceeing numerous events for civic and
8 community groups throughout the years; he joined his sons and
9 family for an annual march in Chicago's Columbus Day Parade
10 to celebrate his Italian heritage; he organized the 10th ward
11 bocce ball tournament for 13 years, playing at his house and
12 a neighboring field, and joined by thousands of participants
13 and observers; and
14 WHEREAS, Don Monico is survived by his wife, Lucy; his
15 sons, Michael (Tricia), and Tom (Linda); his grandchildren,
16 Brian, Vanessa, Christina, Dan, T.J., and Laura; his
17 sister-in-law, Minnie Delich; his brothers-in-law, Raynold
18 (Bonnie) Petrocelli, Nick (Angie) Petrocelli, and Alfred
19 (Rosemary) Petrocelli; and many cousins and friends;
20 therefore, be it
21 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
22 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, with
23 sadness and regret, the death of Don Monico of Chicago,
24 Illinois; may all that knew him find comfort at this time of
25 loss; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
27 presented to the family of Don Monico.