John Nimrod, leader of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and UNPO, dies at 86
Former chairperson of the UNPO General Assembly and leader of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) passes away peacefully at the age of 86.
Former chairperson of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) General Assembly passes away peacefully at the age of 86.
On hearing of the demise of Senator Nimrod, the UNPO Presidency responded with great sadness. Senator Nimrod, who served UNPO in his last years as Honorary President, was very highly regarded amongst his colleagues of the Presidency and as news of Senator Nimrod’s loss became known, condolences came from all corners of the Earth.
In a declaration, the UNPO Presidency expresses that it is deeply saddened by the demise of Senator Nimrod and offers its sincere condolences to the family of Senator Nimrod.
Many Members of the UNPO Presidency had a personal relationship with Senator Nimrod, who was served UNPO as one of its Honorary President since 2006. He was regarded as a dedicated person towards UNPO's objectives by regularly guiding UNPO Members and held in high esteem by his UNPO colleagues. The UNPO Presidency Members therefore feel a deep sense of loss upon learning of the passing away of Senator Nimrod.
Mr. Busdachin, current UNPO General Secretary, pays his respects to this remarkable leader within the Assyrian community, as being one the founding fathers of UNPO. Mr. Busdachin has conveyed his condolences to the family of Senator Nimrod and assured them of the highest respect for him and his work on behalf of all 57 members of UNPO as on behalf of all members of the UNPO Secretariat.
Below is an obituary published by the Chicago Tribune:
John J. Nimrod was an early advocate of solar power and worked to revise the Illinois mental health code during 10 years as a Republican state senator representing the north and northwest suburbs. He also was active in the Assyrian community.
Mr. Nimrod, 86, of Glenview died of natural causes Sunday, Jan. 4 [2009], in Glenbrook Hospital, said his son Joseph.
Mr. Nimrod got his start in politics under the wing of former Gov. Richard Ogilvie. Mr. Nimrod was an administrative assistant to Ogilvie when he was Cook County Board president, and then assistant director of Ogilvie's successful 1968 campaign for governor.
Also in the 1960s, he was a Republican committeeman and Niles Township supervisor, and vied unsuccessfully for an open congressional seat.
In 1972, he was elected to the state Senate, where he remained until he was defeated in a GOP primary by Bob Kustra in 1982. He tried, unsuccessfully, to retain his seat as an independent.
During his tenure as senator, he sponsored bills to change the state's worker's compensation rules, revise the state mental health code and encourage the use of solar power.
Mr. Nimrod's parents were Assyrian Christians who came to Chicago from what is now Iran with their three children and settled in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the North Side. Mr. Nimrod, who was born in Chicago, graduated from Lake View High School and then started at Northwestern University before World War II intervened.
He was in the Army in Europe during World War II, then returned to the service during the Korean War, serving in Korea before his discharge as a captain.
With a degree in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University in 1950, Mr. Nimrod worked for Fisher Body and then later started a fiberglass plant in Chicago that built molds for swimming pools.
After leaving public office, Mr. Nimrod worked in real estate marketing.
He also was a leader in the Assyrian community. He chaired the general assembly of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization in the Hague, Netherlands. In 1999, he took over as president of the Assyrian Universal Alliance Foundation in Chicago, the AUA's charitable arm, from his sister, Helen James Schwarten.
"He was involved in helping all the Assyrians all over the world, especially those that were refugees," said Homer Ashurian, general director of the foundation.
Survivors also include his wife, Dorothy; another son, John Joseph; two daughters, Lizbeth Nimrod and Naomi Dickinson; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services are being planned.
