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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
GEORGE R. RANDAZZO, IN MEMORIAM
WHEREAS, on July 28, 2019, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called George Randazzo from our midst; and
WHEREAS, George Randazzo was the beloved husband of Linda (nee Collins) and devoted father of Anthony (Vivian) and Marc (Yesenia) Randazzo; and
WHEREAS, George Randazzo was the dear brother of Rosemary Favia; and
WHEREAS, George Randazzo was the loving grandfather of Phillip, Linda Marie, Marc Anthony, Ashleigh, Angelina, Ava Bella, Sebastian, Valentina, and Vittoria; and
WHEREAS, George Randazzo, born on October 21, 1941, grew up in the classic Italian neighborhood along Chicago Avenue; and
WHEREAS, George Randazzo was a proud U.S. Army veteran, having served eleven months in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, in 1977, George Randazzo founded the Boxing Hall of Fame. He threw a grand inaugural gala with every living Italian American boxing legend alive at the time. The event captured the attention of other sports greats, including Joe DiMaggio, who advised him to honor Italian American legends in all sports; and
WHEREAS, one year later, George Randazzo created the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame housed in a rented storefront in Elmwood Park and later moved to a larger location in Arlington Heights; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, George Randazzo put a leadership team together to build the organization’s own building in Little Italy on Taylor Street. The 44,000-square-foot Colangelo Center was completed in 2008; and
WHEREAS, after forty years, with almost 300 inductees, more than $6 million in scholarships have been awarded through the Hall of Fame that was George’s vision; and
WHEREAS, throughout is life, George Randazzo received countless awards, including the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family of George Randazzo; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of the same be tendered to the family of George Randazzo so that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished.
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