SR0780 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0780 LRB097 21561 KXB 69735 r

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, He was born January 23, 1944, in Belleville, New Jersey, to the late Matteo and Antoinette (Nee LaBadia); and

WHEREAS, He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in 1966; in 1974, he received a Master of Arts degree from Saint Louis University; he 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 class of 1977-1978 in the Danforth Foundation's St. Louis Leadership Program; and

WHEREAS, He had a long career in public service, which began during his service as a Lieutenant in the United States Army Military Police Corps, where he was assigned to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; he was Madison County's first Director of Administration, serving under the late Nelson Hagnauer from 1975 to 1979; in 1979, he was named Executive Director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments; he also served as the first Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello, a position he held until he was elected Madison County Circuit Clerk; and

WHEREAS, He was the Madison County Circuit Clerk and Chairman of the Madison County Democratic Party; he was a 5-term clerk of the Third Judicial Circuit Court and was first elected in 1992 and re-elected in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008; in 2007, he was also elected Madison County Democratic Party Chairman and was recently re-elected to that post; and

WHEREAS, He was a Democratic National Committee member; he was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 365, and served as a past President of the Collinsville Lions Club and the Italian American Club of Southwestern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Maria (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 nephews; and his brother-in-law, 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 Melucci; and be it further

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