[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6816]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING CALVIN ``CAL'' SUTKER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Calvin ``Cal'' 
Sutker, a political and community leader, a devoted family man, and a 
treasured friend to many.
  Cal Sutker had an illustrious political career that included many 
elected and appointed leadership positions, beginning as a Trustee in 
the Village of Skokie from 1965 to 1969, where he helped pass one of 
the first Fair Housing Ordinances in the State of Illinois.
  From 1985 to 1991, Mr. Sutker ably represented his community in the 
Illinois General Assembly as State Representative and went on to become 
Cook County Commissioner from 1994 to 2002. Mr. Sutker served as Niles 
Township Democratic Committeeman for 33 years, from 1973 to 2006. He 
also served as Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party and as State 
Central Committeeman. He was a friend and supporter of many aspiring 
and serving elected officials, including me, for which I will always be 
grateful.
  In addition to the many laws and ordinances that he authored that 
have made life better for the people of Illinois, Mr. Sutker has left 
an indelible physical legacy for our community. He was instrumental in 
bringing the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, the 2nd District 
Courthouse, and the Illinois Holocaust Museum to Skokie. In 2006, a 
Cook County Forest Preserve District grove was name for Cal Sutker.
  Mr. Sutker was active in Jewish charitable causes, and a staunch 
supporter of NA'AMAT USA, in which his beloved wife Phyllis was a 
leader for many years. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1942, 
serving in Germany, France and Austria during World War II. He was in 
the battalion that first entered the Dachau concentration camp and 
liberated its prisoners, and spoke regularly to community and student 
groups about his experiences during the war.
  He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of 
Chicago.
  Calvin Sutker and his late wife Phyllis had four children--Edie Sue 
Sutker, a Skokie Trustee, Shelly Sutker-Dermer, a Circuit Court Judge 
in Skokie, Sharon McGowan, and Allen Sutker. He is also survived by his 
eight grandchildren, his sister Ada Rabinowitz, and his brother Irwin 
Sutker.

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