Adeline Geo-Karis

Infobox_State_Senator
name=Adeline Jay Geo-Karis


state_senate=Illinois
state=Illinois
district=31st
term=1979–2007
preceded=
succeeded=Michael Bond
date of birth=birth date|1918|3|29
place of birth=Tegeas, Greece
date of death=death date and age|2008|2|10|1918|3|29
place of death=Glenview, Cook County, Illinois
spouse=
profession=Attorney, politician
religion=Greek Orthodox
party=Republican|

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. [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ] Prior to her election as Senator, she was in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973-79. [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ] Known as simply as "Geo" to her constituents, she was a popular politician in Lake County, Illinois for many years. [ [http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/features/2007mar/gop.html The Illinois GOP by Aaron Chambers - Illinois Issues ] ] Known for her no-nonsense attitude and her ability to work across party lines, [ [http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/features/2007mar/gop.html The Illinois GOP by Aaron Chambers - Illinois Issues ] ] she also served for a time as Mayor of Zion.

Life

Born in Greece, [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ] Geo-Karis came to America at the age of four with her parents. [ [http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/features/2007mar/gop.html The Illinois GOP by Aaron Chambers - Illinois Issues ] ] She attended Northwestern University and the DePaul University College of Law. [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ] She rose to the rank Lt. Commander in the United States Naval Reserves before retiring with a top secret security clearance [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ] She also served as a Justice of the Peace and later as an assistant state's attorney in Lake County. [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ]

Due to an inter-party feud, although she was a lifetime Republican, she endorsed and actively campaigned for Democrat Michael Bond. [ [http://www.campaignsitebuilder.com/templates/displayfiles/Tmpl13.asp?siteid=524&pageid=8510&trial=false&blogid=1894 6/19/05-3/15/07 ] ] Bond's election, in an 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. [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=986 Senator Adeline Jay Geo-Karis] ]

Death and legacy

She died on February 10 2008, aged 89, of natural causes, at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Illinois. [ [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-geo-karis-obit_webfeb12,1,6062989.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true Ex-state Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, 89, was a pioneer for women and a force in Illinois GOP (Chicago Tribune obit)] ] The Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park in Zion is named for her. [ [http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/ILBEACH.HTM Adeline Jay Geo-Karis State Park] ]

References