RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Joe Pecoraro has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Joe was married to Peggy nee Stewart for 64 years, and is survived by his children Mary Kelly, Nancy (Tony) Pecoraro and Joseph, Jr. (Katherine) Pecoraro, grandchildren, extended family, and friends; and:
WHEREAS, Joe was born on July 23,1930 and lived all of his life in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Joe graduated from Schurz High School, and then earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education from DePaul University where he was a ticket manager for the DePaul Blue Demons Basketball team for 13 years; and
WHEREAS, He taught at DePaul University and St. Edmunds grade school in Oak Park for many years; and
WHEREAS, In 1949, Joe began his career with the Chicago Park District as a lifeguard; and
WHEREAS, Joe's love for Chicago's beaches and pools kept him at the Chicago Park District for over 54 years, until he retired as General Superintendent of Beaches and Pools; and ,
WHERAS, Joe served in the U.S. Army for two years, where he taught swimming to the First Calvary Division in Tokyo; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure at the Chicago Park District, Joe managed over 1,000 lifeguards, over 30 miles of beaches and almost 100 pools; and
WHEREAS, Joe was President of the United States Lifesaving Association from 1983-1991, and President of the Great Lakes Region ofthe USLA for over 20 years; and
WHEREAS, Joe helped introduce swimming to the Special Olympics in 1968, along with Anne Burke, and was honored in 2018 at the 50th Anniversary of that inaugural event; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his long career he received many accolades, but one of his favorite memories was meeting President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office in recognition of his water safety work; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Joe Pecoraro imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, th...
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