SR0413 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0413 LRB097 14442 GRL 59289 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ralph J. Coletta, who passed away on October 19, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was born on December 13, 1921, in Chillicothe; his parents were Cesidio and Assunta Aromatario Coletta; he married Ethel Mary Meyers on November 19, 1949, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was a graduate of Chillicothe Grade School and Peoria High School; he then earned his bachelor's degree from Bradley Polytechnic Institute, now Bradley University, and his doctorate in law from the University of Chicago Law School in 1949; he then passed his bar examination that same year; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Army during World War II; after graduating from the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was commissioned as a lieutenant of infantry; he served in the South Pacific Theater of Operations until the surrender of Japanese forces, when he served with the United States Army of Occupation in Japan as a Japanese language interpreter with the general headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur; he also served at the Fifth Army headquarters at Fort Sheridan, and as a reserve officer from 1948 to 1949; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta founded the family law firm in Peoria in 1950, being later joined in the practice of law by his sons, Joseph and Robert; he served as a lawyer for more than 55 years and was recognized as a senior counselor by the Illinois State Bar Association in 2000; he was admitted to practice before all Illinois courts and the Supreme Court of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta served as assistant state's attorney of Peoria County from 1952 to 1956; he later served as vice chairman of the Business and Commercial Law Committee of the American Bar Association; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was a member of the American, State of Illinois, Chicago, and Peoria County Bar Associations; he served as a hearing officer for the Illinois Pollution Control Board from 1970 to 1975; he was also a member of Land of Lincoln Packards and Packard Automobile Association, the Italian American Society, the American Legion Peoria Post No. 2 and the 40 et 8 of the Legion, the Knights of Columbus, Mount Hawley Country Club, the Union League Club of Chicago, the Creve Coeur Club of Peoria, the Bradley University B Club, the Bradley Chiefs Club, and Lakeview Museum; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was active in the development of real estate in the Peoria area and served as president of 2 real estate development organizations, the White Star Corporation and as a general partner of The Ralet Limited Partnership and Mark Tidd Inc; he was a former director of the Illinois Valley Savings and Loan Association for many years and was a founding director and officer in Wheels O'Time Museum; he also served as a director of the Peoria Regional Museum Society; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was a former director of St. Jude Midwest Affiliate and an adviser to the Peoria Area Blind People's Center; he was a former Republican Precinct Committeeman for 10 years and was a Republican delegate to Illinois; he was a former member of the Peoria Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Peoria Chamber of Commerce; he was also a Mass Lector and served on the Parish Council at St. Philomena Catholic Church, where he was a member for many years; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Renee Joers; his brother, John; and his grandson, Adam Ahitow; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Coletta is survived by his wife; his children, Jeanie Caskey (Barry Stortz), Michele (Dan) Smith, Robert (Valencia) Coletta, Marianne (Pete) Hoener, Suzanne (Vince) Kennedy, and Joseph (Debra); his 14 grandchildren; his 2 great-granddaughters; and his great-grandson; 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 Ralph J. Coletta; and be it further

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