Obituary
Hon. Alan Joel Greiman, brilliant jurist, impactful legislator, lifelong Chicagoan, and bon vivant died peacefully at home at age 90. Although his body gave out, his positive spirit and zest for life were with him until the end. He was the devoted son of Maurice and Natalie Greiman and was preceded in death by his first wife Carole (Lanoff). His love of chocolate, a good cigar, ‘40s music, cabaret, and political discourse were surpassed only by his deep love for his wife Julie Hamos, his daughters and their spouses (Laurie Greiman and Peter Walton, Lori and Rich Coyle, Judy Greiman and David Knishkowy, Jodi and Michael Moran, Tami Friedman, Bunny and Stu Evans), his grandchildren (Jonathan and Pam Walton, Cara Walton and Lance Machado, Shira Knishkowy and Ben Gaffin, Maya Evans and Brian Strelko, Dan Knishkowy and Chrissy Ziegler, Madi and Adam Dooley, Carly Evans and Nate Knorek), and his great grandchildren (Rowan and Sylvie Walton). Individually and collectively they filled him with joy, and he showered them with his love, wisdom, and humor.
He devoted his career to equality and justice and was an advocate, a lawyer, a legislator and Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives. His time in the legislature was marked by his wily ability to get his progressive agenda enacted while building unusual coalitions. He sponsored the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, as well as legislation granting no-fault divorce and the right to public employee collective bargaining, prohibiting the sale of handguns, banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, protecting newsrooms from unreasonable searches, and was the first in the nation to propose a ban on discrimination based on age. He was an ardent sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment and had the stories to tell about why Illinois failed to pass it.
He was also a Circuit Court Judge and Chief Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. As a judge, he instituted a celebrated mediation program and other innovations that resulted in speedier resolutions of cases. His wit, his humor, and his big heart made him friends and allies on all sides of all aisles for accomplishing great things for the people of Illinois.
He was a big guy with an equally big passion for life, his family, the law, travel, his countless friends and good food. We will miss him deeply.
Service Thursday 10AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd. (at Niles Center Road) Skokie. Interment Westlawn.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Illini Hillel, 503 E John St., Champaign, IL 61820, www.illinihillel.org.
To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals. www.chicagojewishfunerals.com