Chicago native served in WW II, Korea and led Assyrian group
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, 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.
Beloved husband of Dorothy Ingeborg Nimrod (nee Paul). Loving father of Lizbeth Nimrod, Naomi (Charlie) Dickinson, Joseph John (Lynn) Nimrod, and John Joseph Nimrod. Cherished grandfather of John Paul (Samantha) Nimrod, Janet (Dickinson) Felton, Anna Dickinson, Loribeth Dickinson, Joseph Nimrod Jr., and Jack Nimrod. Devoted great-grandfather of Mya Nimrod, Thomas Nimrod, and Raymond Felton. Dear brother of the late Helen James Schwarten, Susie Badel, and Joseph Nimrod. Fond uncle of: Ed (Jeannie) James, Ken (Connie) James, Joe (Pat) Nimrod, Dick (Jeanne) Nimrod, Charlotte Wynegar, Robert (Donna) Badal, Herb (Carol) Badal and great-uncle of Warren (Amy) James, Jerry (Kitty) James, Ann Harvey, Catherine King, Carl (Caroline) James, Merrily James, Melissa Richardson.
Chicago native served in WW II, Korea and led Assyrian group
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, 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.
Beloved husband of Dorothy Ingeborg Nimrod (nee Paul). Loving father of Lizbeth Nimrod, Naomi (Charlie) Dickinson, Joseph John (Lynn) Nimrod, and John Joseph Nimrod. Cherished grandfather of John Paul (Samantha) Nimrod, Janet (Dickinson) Felton, Anna Dickinson, Loribeth Dickinson, Joseph Nimrod Jr., and Jack Nimrod. Devoted great-grandfather of Mya Nimrod, Thomas Nimrod, and Raymond Felton. Dear brother of the late Helen James Schwarten, Susie Badel, and Joseph Nimrod. Fond uncle of: Ed (Jeannie) James, Ken (Connie) James, Joe (Pat) Nimrod, Dick (Jeanne) Nimrod, Charlotte Wynegar, Robert (Donna) Badal, Herb (Carol) Badal and great-uncle of Warren (Amy) James, Jerry (Kitty) James, Ann Harvey, Catherine King, Carl (Caroline) James, Merrily James, Melissa Richardson.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Nimrod memorials in:
Advertisement