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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Gregory Novak of Savoy, who passed away 
4on March 7, 2012; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, He was born in Chicago on September 4, 1950, the 
6son of George and Sylvia (Stepnowski) Novak; he married Donna 
7Oakes Gerbino on July 19, 1997 and became a father to her 
8daughter, Elizabeth Lindsey; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, He worked as a librarian at Edison and Jefferson 
10middle schools in Champaign for 31 years; he also served as the 
11librarian for the Champaign Office of Education; during his 
12tenure in Champaign, he was an active member of the Champaign 
13Teachers Federation serving as a building steward, member of 
14the collective bargaining unit, vice president and president; 
15and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Upon his retirement, he was elected to the 
17Champaign Board of Education; he worked tirelessly to improve 
18the education of all children in Unit 4 schools; he was 
19especially proud of the improvements made to the elementary 
20schools and the construction of a new elementary school in 
21Savoy; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, In addition to his family and to his educational 
2pursuits, he was a voracious reader and avid war gamer; he was 
3considered an authority on the Spanish American War and the 
4Civil War; he wrote books about historical events as well as 
5rules for miniature war games; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Gregory Novak is survived by his father of Savoy; 
7his wife, Donna; his daughter, Elizabeth; his grandchildren, 
8Margaret Jane, Sophia Ann, Robert Gregory, and Abigail 
9Elizabeth; his siblings, Cindie (Bob) Teeling, Cathie 
10Stevanovich, Jon (Vanessa) Novak, and Peg (Tony) Luetkehans; 
11and his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
15his family and friends, the passing of Gregory Novak; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Gregory Novak as a symbol of our 
19sincere sympathy.