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Adeline Geo-Karis

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American politician
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis
official portrait, circa 1981
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 31st district
In office
January 1979 (1979-Jan) – January 2007 (2007-Jan)
Preceded byLarry Leonard
Succeeded byMichael Bond
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1973–1979
Personal details
BornAntigone Geokaris
(1918-03-29)March 29, 1918
Tegeas, Greece
DiedFebruary 10, 2008(2008-02-10) (aged 89)
Glenview, Illinois, US
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceZion, Illinois
Alma materNorthwestern University (B.S.)
DePaul University (J.D.)
ProfessionAttorney
Politician
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Naval Reserve
RankLieutenant commander

Adeline Jay Geo-Karis (March 29, 1918 – February 10, 2008) was a Republican politician and a member of the Illinois Senate for the 31st District, where she served for over 25 years. Prior to her election as Senator, she was in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979. Known simply as "Geo" to her constituents, she was a popular politician in Lake County, Illinois for many years. Known for her no-nonsense attitude and her ability to work across party lines, she also served for a time as Mayor of Zion.

Life

Born in Greece, Geo-Karis came to America at the age of four with her parents. She attended Northwestern University and the DePaul University College of Law. She rose to the rank Lt. Commander in the United States Naval Reserves before retiring with a top secret security clearance. She also served as a Justice of the Peace and later as an assistant state's attorney in Lake County.

Due to an inter-party feud which included Republican Susan Simpson challenging Geo-Karis after she had told her she wanted to stay on for one more term, Geo-Karis endorsed Democrat Michael Bond to replace her. Bond's election, in a historically Republican district, was one of the many Democratic victories in 2006 that gave the Democratic Party a super-majority in the State Senate. Geo-Karis finished her final term in the 94th General Assembly where she served as the Executive Appointments Co-Chairperson. She also served on the Senate Committee of the Whole and the Pensions & Investments committees. Geo-Karis was also an avid supporter of Saint Demitrios Greek Orthodox Church, and was a member there for over fifty years.

Death and legacy

She died on February 10, 2008, aged 89, of natural causes, at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Illinois. The Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park in Zion is named for her.

References

  1. ^ Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Archived August 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "The Illinois GOP by Aaron Chambers - Illinois Issues". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  3. 6/19/05-3/15/07 Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Ex-state Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, 89, was a pioneer for women and a force in Illinois GOP (Chicago Tribune obit)
  5. Adeline Jay Geo-Karis State Park Archived June 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
Party political offices
Preceded byCalvin Skinner Republican nominee for Illinois Comptroller
1986 		Succeeded bySue Suter
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