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Ralph Amasa Zahorik, 83, died in the early morning hours of May 23, 2022, from COVID-19. He was with his daughter Kristina Zahorik, and his son Tom Zahorik was on the phone.
His underlying health issues, a product of the tobacco industry, caused him to move in with Kristina and her vaccinated family in McHenry County as the pandemic hit in 2020. Previously, he lived in Waukegan, where he was a newspaperman for 40 years writing for weekly and daily newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and the Lake County News-Sun.
Ralph was born in Chicago in 1939. His family moved from the Southside Woodlawn neighborhood to Lisbon, Iowa, in 1947.
Ralph made lifelong friends wherever he went. He had a healthy sense of humor, believed in uplifting working families, was intensely curious about life and people, loved his nine siblings, and was proud of his work life. In Iowa, he worked on farms as a teen, played basketball like his father, was valedictorian, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1967 with a degree in cartography. He completed his degree due to the benefits of the GI Bill. While in college, he drove a cab where he met the mother of his children; he was also an attendant at the university's psychiatric hospital. His work at the hospital underscoring his sense of compassion. He also worked as a bartender, laborer, truck driver, furniture mover, iron worker, and an assembly line worker.
He served in the 1st Armored Division based at Fort Hood for two years in the early 1960s and in the Army Reserves for four years, 1964-1967. His division was in Florida during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. As a veteran, Zahorik got vaccinated through The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.
Married in October 1964, Ralph moved with his wife, stepson, and daughter to Illinois in 1968. His family grew in 1969 with the birth of his son.
Ralph maintained an exceptional collection of books and strange objects, including tomes about the trolls of Scandinavia, peculiar statues, costume jewelry, ancient maps, and rotund birds. During his life in Illinois, he worked as a clerk and gas station attendant before serving within the newspaper world as a reporter, copy editor, associate editor, managing editor, city editor and columnist.
Like his father and many brothers, Ralph was a proud active union member. He was a 50-year member of the Chicago Newspaper Guild (AFLCIO), now the Chicago News Guild and a sector of the Communication Works of America (CWA). He served on the Executive Board of the Chicago Guild and chair of the local's Waukegan Unit for 18 years, and later as chair of the local's General Press Unit. He was an active member of the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor Council for 20 years, briefly serving on its Executive Board. He wrote for Chicago area labor publications and took active roles in supporting working people. He championed union organizing drives and striking workers throughout the state and country, joining the Chicago Solidarity Committee delivering food to striking workers and rallying at the Staley corn processing plant in Decatur. He also marched in the massive 1991 Washington, D.C., Union Solidarity Day Rally and the 1980s Hormel strike in Austin, Minnesota. He was proud to provide grassroots campaigning and organizing for Democratic candidates, especially former President Barack Obama.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, John Zahorik, Sr. and Sonya Holmboe Zahorik. He is also preceded in death by his siblings, Noel Zahorik Johnson and Charlie Zahorik. Ralph's father died in 1983 and was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World and a savvy business agent for Iron Workers Local 89 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Four generations of Zahoriks have worked in the trades in Illinois and Iowa. Ralph's mother died in 1993 and was an artist known for her Norwegian rosemaling and whimsical wall murals and paintings.
Ralph Zahorik is survived and much loved by his daughter, Kristina Zahorik (Paul Sindberg); his son, Thomas Zahorik (Val Newcomb); their mother and his former wife Bonnie Elliott Zahorik; his grandchildren Sonya, Paul, Peri, Ryan and Ali Sindberg, and Jane and Elliott Zahorik; his siblings Eileen Dighton, John, Frank, Robert, and Karin Zahorik; and his nieces and nephews Joe Zahorik, John Zahorik, Marey Stone, Jill Linder, Kathleen Castro, and Ralph Johnson.
Ralph also leaves behind his dear friends Judy Raibley Masterson and Robert Sanders, whom he treated like a son and who grew up in his house, and Robert's children Nick, Jessica, Stephanie, and Johnathon.
The family asks you get vaccinated and organize.
Memorial donations can be made in Ralph Zahorik's name to any of the following: ProPublica 211 W. Wacker Dr., Third Floor, Chicago, IL60606, https://www.propublica.org, Labor & Education Research Project 7435 Michigan Ave., Detroit MI 48210-2227, www.labornotes.org, Institute for Nonprofit News 8549 Wilshire Blvd #2294, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 https://inn.org/donate, The Environmental Defense Fund, www.edf.org, The American Civil Liberties Union, www.aclu.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2025 Contact Information: Cadeala Troublefield, project manager Griffin & Strong Ph: (678) 364-2962 ext. 111 cadeala@gspclaw.com Courtney Clark, deputy project manager Griffin & Strong Ph: (404) 348-0690 ext. 113 courtney@gspclaw.com
VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING DETAILS DATE(TENTATIVE): Wednesday, November 19, 2025 6 PM CST/7 PM EST Interested Participants Can Register Here: https://gspclaw.zoom.us/meeting/register/ytfUEAagQzqnrQE8eO8mSQ#/registration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Contact Information: Kara Kienzler, associate executive director - communications Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Ph: (217) 528-9688
SPRINGFIELD — November 15 of each year is designated as School Board Members Day. The day of recognition is an occasion to build community awareness about the important role school board members play in a representative democracy by providing a local voice for community education decisions. In 2007, the Illinois House of Representatives declared November 15 as School Board Members Day in the State of Illinois. The resolution states the annual recognition is “a way to honor those citizens who devote so much of their time and energy for the education of our children.” “School board members serve as our local, volunteer education advocates striving for quality learning opportunities for every student. They take on this immense responsibility not for a paycheck, but because they are committed to their communities and the belief that every child deserves a quality education,” said IASB Executive Director Kimberly A. Small, J.D. “Our school board members wear many hats; beyond their educational leadership, they are policy-makers, contract negotiators, and budgeteers. They are also our neighbors, our friends, and our schools’ biggest fans. On November 15 –– School Board Members Day — it is our chance to say, ‘Thank You.’” IASB encourages school districts, communities, businesses, and others to thank local school board members and recognize them for their dedication to providing successful education opportunities for all students. Resources and images to recognize school board members on November 15 are available at www.iasb.com/thankaboardmember.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Media Contact Illinois Principals Association Alison Maley, government and public relations director PH: 217-299-3122 alison@ilprincipals.org
SPRINGFIELD – In a direct response to the growing school leadership shortage across Illinois, the Illinois Principals Association, through its Ed Leaders Network (ELN), has teamed up with Aurora University to launch an exciting and streamlined Alternative Principal Endorsement Program. This endorsement pathway enables educators who already have five years of experience and hold a master’s degree in education to earn their Principal Endorsement in just one year – without completing an additional graduate degree. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and aligned with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards, the program blends an immersive one-year internship with micro‑credentials tailored to school leadership practice. Eligible educators can earn licensure‑approved endorsement within one calendar year. This program is significantly less expensive than a full master’s degree and delivered on a fully remote platform. Participants in the program have appreciated the flexibility and experience the program provides as they enter or continue their school leadership journey. “Having already completed my master's degree, I knew I wanted to add the Principals Endorsement to my license, but I did not want to enroll in another full master's program. I was able to pull from previous leadership experience as I worked through the micro-credentials while still gaining valuable experience during my internship activities. The program is challenging but rewarding as it offers a way to reflect on previous experiences while building new skills as an educational leader."
- Jon Pieper, division head for Career & Technical Education, Physical Education, Drivers Education, and Health Education at Elk Grove High School
“The Alternative Principal Endorsement program was a great fit because everything was online, and I could work at my own pace. The flexibility allowed me to balance professional responsibilities while advancing my leadership skills. I would highly recommend this program to aspiring leaders.”
- Dr. Maribel Guerrero, director of language acquisition, Naperville CUSD 203
Dr. Ed Howerton, director of graduate education programs at Aurora University and former district administrator, shared: "Our program leans heavily into a ‘learning by doing’ framework that is extremely self-driven. It provides flexibility for professionals and ownership in the learning process. Many of our completers have moved into administrative roles sooner than if they had gone through a master’s degree program, and filling leadership voids in our schools is key to promoting student success.” Dr. Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association, also shared: “When compared to a little over a decade ago, the State of Illinois has experienced an almost 60% reduction in the number of individuals who earn their principal endorsement each year. This alternative pathway provides a rigorous, cost effective, and expedited opportunity for quality educators to demonstrate they possess the skills necessary to be effective school leaders.” Eligible candidates must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), possess a master’s degree in education, have completed five years of teaching or school support experience, are employed in a full‑time, permanent educational position before program start, and complete required evaluation training and principal content exams to qualify for endorsement. Currently, 81 students are enrolled at various stages of the program at Aurora University, including 30 students that began this fall semester. Twenty-four students have completed the program since its inception, with 12 individuals working in leadership positions. Aurora University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Aurora University is committed to preparing leaders for the future of education. For a full overview of the program’s structure and registration information, visit the Alternative Principal Endorsement at https://aurora.edu/academics/graduate/principal-endorsement/index.html. Illinois Principals Association The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization which serves more than 6,900 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois and whose mission is to develop, support, and advocate for innovative educational leaders. For more information about the IPA, please visit www.ilprincipals.org. Program Contacts Aurora University – Ed Howerton, director of Graduate Education Programs, ehowerton@aurora.edu, 630-844-5626 Ed Leaders Network / Illinois Principals Association – Arlin Peebles, Ed Leaders Network director, arlin.peebles@ilprincipals.org, 217-241-0598
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025 Contact Illinois Bar Foundation Jessie Reeves, director of events & administration Ph: 312-920-4681 jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
CHICAGO, November 5, 2025 - Mark D. Hassakis, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was recently honored with the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence on Oct. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Mark D. Hassakis has the legal advocacy of Illinois victims in his blood. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, Mark followed in the footsteps of his father, Demetri, a lifelong Mount Vernon attorney, to practice law at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C, now celebrating 75 years. Mark has dedicated his professional life to helping his fellow Illinois citizens and the community at large. In addition to his exceptional career representing individuals’ needs in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and general tort injury cases, Mark is a true leader with unparalleled dedication to giving back to the community. The Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest honor, is awarded annually to individuals whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and legal community. “The selection of Mark Hassakis for this year's Distinguished Award of Excellence reflects our belief in the principle that legal excellence and community service go hand in hand. His career demonstrates how individual attorneys can make a lasting impact not just through their practice, but through their commitment to strengthening the legal profession and ensuring access to justice for all Illinois residents.”
Lauren N. Tuckey, Tuckey Law Illinois Bar Foundation President 2025-26
Bar leadership and community impact Mark's commitment to the legal profession extends far beyond his practice. As president of the Illinois State Bar Association (2010-11), he championed juvenile justice reform, established young attorney mentorship programs, and highlighted the vital role lawyers play in strengthening their communities. His passion for juvenile justice led to the establishment of the Illinois Bar Foundation's M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which focuses on improving Illinois' juvenile justice system through public policy changes and programs supporting vulnerable youth. Mark served as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2002, during which time he was instrumental in creating the organization's signature fundraising events, including the Gala and Lawyers Rock concert. Mark has held numerous other leadership positions, including chairman of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company; president of the Jefferson County Bar Association; and board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Lawyers' Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Beyond his legal work, Mark has been a driving force in Mount Vernon and Southern Illinois development. He has spearheaded projects focused on downtown development, historical building restoration, and the support of community parks and arts initiatives. Notable achievements include bringing nationally acclaimed jazz artists to teach area grade school students and commissioning an "Abraham Lincoln as a Lawyer" sculpture for the 5th Appellate Court grounds in Mount Vernon. A proud Northwestern University alumnus, Mark continues to serve as an alumni regent and member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle since 2012, acting as an ambassador for the university. Mark's extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Downtown Development Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Historical Society, Lincoln Park Foundation, Vernon West Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and numerous other local organizations dedicated to enriching Southern Illinois. Bar Admissions