Feb 11, 2008 3:39 pm US/Central
Trailblazing Ex-Legislator Geo-Karis Dead At 89
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ―
Adeline Geo-Karis, an immigrant, World War II veteran and suburban mayor, blazed new political trails for women on the way to becoming one of Illinois' most popular legislators.
The former mayor and prosecutor in Lake County -- known simply as "Geo" at the state Capitol in her more than 30 years in the Illinois House and Senate -- has died at age 89.
Geo-Karis died of natural causes Sunday night at Glenbrook Hospital in suburban Chicago, said Antoinetta Simonian, executive director of the Lake County Republican Foundation.
Geo-Karis left office in January 2007, after losing her re-election bid in 2006. But she remained active in politics -- even winning a recent race for Republican committeeman in Lake County despite failing health, Simonian said.
Former colleagues and friends agreed Geo-Karis transcended politics in Springfield, with her feisty spirit and independent nature.
"Adeline Geo-Karis was a bigger-than-life personality in Springfield and in Lake County," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale. "She was literally a giant in every respect."
Born in Greece in 1918, Geo-Karis served in the U.S. Naval Reserves before starting a string of firsts for women in Illinois.
She was the first female assistant state's attorney in Lake County before becoming mayor of suburban Zion. She was the first female House member from Lake County, elected in 1973, and six years later became the county's first female Senate member.
Geo-Karis then became the first woman picked for Senate leadership, pushing for bus rides for parochial school students and better treatment for military veterans during her long career.
But it was her personality that left the deepest impression in Springfield.
She served many years as emcee for the annual softball game between the House and Senate, cheering and jeering her colleagues. She led rousing renditions of patriotic songs to honor veterans on Memorial Day on the Senate floor.
In her later years, she was seen frequently tooling around the Capitol and on the Senate floor in a motorized scooter.
Former Republican Sen. Dave Sullivan, who sat next to Geo-Karis during his eight years in office, said other GOP members jokingly referred to him as her errand boy. Because of health problems, Geo-Karis couldn't get around easily so she would send Sullivan to bring over other legislators to talk to her or to go grab a snack.
Sullivan admired her ability to avoid political pretense.
"Geo would speak her mind, whether she knew she was going to aggravate people or not," Sullivan said.
That was evident in 2006, when Senate Republican leaders decided to back another candidate, Suzanne Simpson, for Geo-Karis' seat. Simpson upset Geo-Karis, who ultimately supported Democrat Michael Bond, and Bond went on to win the seat in November.
"She would not do what somebody told her to do," Simonian said. "Nobody told her what to do."
But any hard feelings were overshadowed as retirement neared. Illinois Beach State Park was renamed after her in 2006, and senators approved proclaiming her birthday in March 2006 as Adeline Geo-Karis Day in Illinois.
Both Republicans and Democrats praised her commitment to public service and her voters above all else.
"She was proud to know she was the Grand Old Lady of the Grand Old Party," Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson said in a statement.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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