CONGRATULATIONS TO PHYLLIS HORNER SEROTA ON CELEBRATING HER
100™ BIRTHDAY
WHEREAS, Phyllis Horner Serota, joined by family and friends, celebrated her 100" Birthday; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been informed of this special occasion by the Honorable Brian Hopkins, Alderman ofthe 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Phyllis was born on September 5. 1918, and raised in Chicago, IL., an only child to loving parents, Frieda, (nee Golland) originally from Slutsk, Russia and Fred Horner, born in Prague, Austria-Hungary; and
WHEREAS, In the year of her birth, the life expectancy was 42.2 for Females and 36.6 for Males. In 1918, pink was for boys because it is a stronger color, and the more delicate blue was reserved for girls. The Star Spangled Banner was performed for the first time at a major league game during the World Series. Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day, marking the end of WWI hostilities which occurred in 1918 in the 11th month, on the 11th day, at the 11th hour, and the song God Bless America was written by Irving Berlin; and
WHEREAS, Phyllis grew up on the 5700 block of N. Kimball and attended Von Steuben High School. She graduated in the midst ofthe Great Depression and her family did not have resources to send her to the University of Illinois, which was her school of choice. She became a secretary; and
WHEREAS, She met the love of her life, Louis Serota and they were married in 1946. They settled in the 49th Ward (Rogers Park) living close to the lake on North Shore Ave. They guided their two sons, James and Mitchell, through Chicago Public Schools and Cub scouts. The family were congregants of B'nai Zion on Pratt Avenue, where the boys attended Hebrew School; and
WHEREAS, Louis suffered a first heart attack in the 1950's, Phyllis would drop off her boys at the Museum of Science and Industry while she attended to her husband at Michael Reese Hospital. After touring the Museum in its entirety over the course of many weekends, both sons grew up with a dee...
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