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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HON. ALAN JOEL GREIMAN
WHEREAS, Hon. Alan Joel Greiman, brilliant jurist, impactful legislator, lifelong Chicagoan, and bon vivant died peacefully at home at age 90; and
WHEREAS, Alan was the devoted only child of Maurice and Natalie Greiman and was raised in the South Shore Community of Chicago where he attended Chicago Public Schools; and
WHEREAS, Alan received his Bachelor’s and Law Degree from the University of Illinois. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1955 and practiced law in Chicago and Skokie, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, after law school he moved his family to the Village of Skokie, where he became a community leader and in 1972 was elected to represent Skokie and surrounding communities in the Illinois General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, Alan devoted his career to equality and justice as an advocate, lawyer, legislator from 1972 to 1987, and ultimately Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives. His time in the legislature was marked by his ability to get his progressive agenda enacted while building unusual coalitions. He was a strong advocate for women, sponsoring the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, and an ardent sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment. He also sponsored legislation granting no-fault divorce, the right to public employee collective bargaining, prohibiting the sale of handguns, banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, protecting newsrooms from unreasonable searches, and the first in the nation bill to propose a ban on discrimination based on age. His wit, humor, and big heart made him friends and allies on both sides of the aisle, garnered him the respect of those fortunate enough to serve with him, and allowed him to accomplish great things for the people of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, following his service in the legislature, Alan was appointed and elected as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge, 1987 - 1994 where he handled the complicated Law Division Motion Call and instituted procedures that expedited case resolutions; and
WHEREAS, in 1994 the Illinois Supreme Court appointed him to the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District where he would serve until 2008 and become the longest serving Chief Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court; and
WHEREAS, as Chief Justice he instituted a first in the nation mediation program and other innovations that resulted in speedier resolutions of cases; and
WHEREAS, Alan’s positive spirit and zest for life were with him until the end. His love of chocolate, a good cigar, '40s music, cabaret, and political discourse were surpassed only by his deep love for his wife Julie Hamos, his six daughters and their spouses: Laurie Greiman and Peter Walton, Lori and Rich Coyle, Judy Greiman and David Knishkowy, Jodi and Michael Moran, Tami Friedman, Bunny and Stu Evans; his grandchildren: Jonathan and Pam Walton, Cara Walton and Lance Machado, Shira Knishkowy and Ben Gaffin, Maya Evans and Brian Strelko , Dan Knishkowy and Chrissy Ziegler, Madi and Adam Dooley, Carly Evans and Nate Knorek and the pride of his final years great grandchildren Rowan and Sylvie Walton Individually and collectively they filled him with joy, and he showered them with his love, wisdom, and humor; and
WHEREAS, Alan was the devoted to his first wife Carole (Lanoff) who preceded him in death at a very young age; and
WHEREAS, everyone who knew Alan knew him to be a big guy with an equally big passion for life, his family, the law, travel, his countless friends, and good food. He will be deeply missed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the life, work, and contributions of the Hon. Alan Joel Greiman and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of same be tendered to the family of the Hon. Alan Joel Greiman.
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