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Remembering Geo

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Illinois

* I knew about this story, so I’m happy to see the Daily Herald used it in its piece on Geo’s life…

It was the fifth inning and a youthful Richard M. Daley was on the mound for the Illinois Senate.

Into the batter’s box stepped freshman Republican House member Adeline Geo-Karis. She looped a Daley offering into short left field, just beyond the fielders’ reach, and stood atop first base.

It was early June 1973, and with that swing, Geo-Karis is believed to have become the first woman to get a hit in the annual Illinois House-Senate charity softball game.

While perhaps not her greatest civic achievement, it may very well sum up Geo-Karis’ tenure in public life, a span of more than three decades during which she frequently found herself one of the few women in the room, but always ready to handle whatever the boys could dish out.

Geo-Karis died Sunday at the age of 89.

* You can read the original UPI story that the above recollection is based upon by clicking here.

* More…

A staunch Republican, Geo-Karis met such notables as former presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and helped George H.W. Bush campaign in Lake County. But she was also comfortable working with those on both sides of the aisle politically and socially.

“On a personal basis we were friends. I knew her before she was elected (to the State Legislature),” said State Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan. “I think one of her major accomplishments is what every legislator should take to heart - constituent services. When someone called her with a problem, she tried to do as much as she possible could to solve it for them.”

Geo-Karis retired after a 28-year career in the Senate, preceded by six years in the House, during the contentious Republican primary in 2006, which she lost to Warren Township Supervisor Suzanne Simpson. Geo-Karis then supported Democratic candidate Michael Bond of Vernon Hills, who beat Simpson in a close general election race to win the Senate seat.

Geo-Karis won her last election Feb. 5 when she was reelected to her position as a precinct committeeman.

Born in Tegeas, Greece on March 29, 1918, Geo-Karis immigrated to the United States in 1922. She was a graduate of Northwestern University and DePaul University Law School. She served as Lt. Commander with the U.S. Naval Reserves. Geo-Karis, who was also a past mayor of Zion and served as village attorney for Vernon Hills for many years, was a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Waukegan. She is survived by extended family and friends.

Geo was like a great aunt to me. I once owned a big, old, yellow Cadillac, and Geo loved it and I often gave her rides after session. For whatever reason, she called me “Miller.” Once, she caught herself and said, “I don’t know why I don’t call you ‘Rich,’ but I’ve gotten so used to calling you ‘Miller’ that I think I’ll just keep doing it.” I didn’t care. She was a woman who always spoke her mind and I truly loved her for it.

We’re all gonna miss her.

* The Tribune has the services schedule…

Funeral services for Geo-Karis, who was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday in Zion at Illinois State Beach Park Conference Center and Resort in the Adeline J. Geo-Karis State Park, which was named after her two years ago. A wake is scheduled at the same location from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 11, 08 @ 6:34 pm

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