Honorable W. Robert Blair II, age 83, of Chicago, IL, Sarasota, FL, and Somonauk, IL. Former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Chairman of the Illinois Transportation Study Commission, House Counsel for, and Assistant to the President of Swift and Company, Judge Advocate General, Amarillo, TX, and at Chanute Air Force Base, IL, Lieutenant Air Force Veteran. Beloved husband of Rozanne M. Blair, nee Leszko; fond father of Steven Blair, Mark Blair, Susan Blair, Jeannine (Jacques) Fleurant, Sandy (Brian) Bakalich, Jennifer (Joe Coppolillo) Joyce, Kevin (Jennifer) Joyce, Christopher (Kelly) Joyce and the late Warren Joyce Jr.; dear grandfather of Brendon Joyce, Alexandra Bakalich, Olivia Joyce, Rachel Bakalich, Collin Joyce; Gavin Joyce Mark Blair, Amanda Blair, Savannah Blair and Justice Blair; loving brother of James (Linda) Blair. Visitation Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 3 P.M. to 8 P.M. and Thursday, January 23, 2014, 9 A.M. to 9:30 A.M. at Hitzeman Funeral Home Ltd., 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield. Funeral 9:30 A.M. to St. Louise de Marillac Church, La Grange Park, Mass 10 A.M. Interment Private. Memorials appreciated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd Floor, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814. Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com
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To the Blair Family,
I had the privilege to serve in the Illinois House with Speaker Blair. Brilliant Man. Personable. He had a great laugh and a great smile. My Dad served with him before I did. My Dad died in June of 1972. I served succeeding my father. You lent us a wonderful man. Bob was always very warm and friendly to me.Thank you. God Bless, Mike McClain
Susan, Mark, and Steve, all of whom were children when I stood at their father’s right hand in 1973-75: I owe your father a great deal. In my memoirs currently being taped, I mention he hired the first woman lawyer on any Illinois legislative staff (me)and the first African-American lawyer on a Republican staff (maybe ANY staff). He was the transition Speaker when the 1970 Illinois Constitution was new and the one who, more than any other, modernized the House. I shall always remember him fondly and with gratitude.