Introducing Our New Junior Grand Deacon

Master in 2008. The Brethren of three additional Lodges elected me as their Worshipful Master — Landmark Lodge No. 442 (2009 and 2010), Green Dragon Lodge No. 821 (2017) and Jacques DeMolay Lodge No. 1919 (2021). That last one captures a special moment both as being one of the charter members and the first Worshipful Master of the newest Lodge in the Northeastern Area and our grand jurisdiction. I am also an Honorary member of Crete Lodge No. 763. Diving further into Lodge Operations, I serve as the current Secretary of Green Dragon Lodge No. 821. While as a District Deputy Grand Master and then as an Assistant Area Deputy Grand Master for the Northeastern Area, I have gotten a deeper understanding of both the issues and opportunities facing our Lodges. Also, in those positions, I learned from helping officers manage problem escalation, encourage Brethren to work harmoniously together, educate and share resources to help them be successful, and assist with making tough decisions when needed.

A rewarding and valuable Masonic experience has been serving for more than three years as the Chairman of the Illinois Masonic Student Assistance Program (IMSAP) Board of Managers. This role has provided an opportunity to gain experience and help advance the financial and charitable work of our Grand Lodge. Among our Illinois Masonic Charities, I do have a passion for the work done by all the charitable programs under the IMSAP umbrella (including the Academic Bowl and Coins for Children). I have gotten a first-hand view of the magnificent work and positive impact that our charities have in our communities across the state especially collaborating directly with teachers, administrators, and students. The focus on helping our youth in Illinois cope with and adapt to the difficulties of growing into productive adults is some of the most beneficial work that we do, both before and after this pandemic.

While thinking about the major challenges and opportunities of our grand jurisdiction now and into the future, I focus on what I have learned not only in the leadership roles already mentioned, but from my deep and active involvement with our Masonic Youth organizations. Masonry has real value in the lives of the younger men and women and their friends who I have helped to mentor for years; providing that value will have a positive impact on membership retention and help attract new Brethren to support membership growth. Also, when Masons are visible in the community doing direct service work, we make a positive impact and highlight a key part of who we are which is incredibly attractive to men of all ages and their families. Based upon my experience with our Masonic Youth, I can humbly say that the future is bright for our fraternity if we focus on delivering the type of value that I know we can in the lives of the younger men and women throughout the state.

My Masonic journey also includes active support, leadership, and dedication to several Appendant Masonic Bodies in the Chicagoland area. For the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, I served as Thrice Potent Master of the Van Rensselaer Lodge of Perfection for the Valley of Chicago. I served with honor as Excellent High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master and Eminent Commander of the York Rite Bodies in Joliet, IL. I am also a proud member of Medinah Shriners (including assisting as the Chairman of the Youth Committee) and many other Masonic organizations. One of my biggest pleasures is serving as an adult volunteer and advisor with all three of our Masonic Youth Groups in Illinois (Illinois DeMolay, Rainbow for Girls, and Jobs Daughters).

Active military service is a valuable part of my background that helped shape my life. I had the honor of serving our country in the Illinois Army National Guard in a full-time capacity as a company clerk and on numerous Battalion Staff positions. My primary Occupation was infantry, being able to serve our country for more than eight years and honorably discharged in 1995 as a Sergeant. I had the pleasure of being a Squad Leader including mentoring and leading the young soldiers of our Company and Battalion.

For almost 30 years, I have worked for a major construction company in the greater Chicagoland area.

Masonic Riding Association...”

During the last 28 years, I have been a Concrete Quality Control Manager. In addition to managing my team of lab and field technicians, I partner with several other internal contract managers and external City, State and Federal representatives and customers. A key contribution and focus of my work is managing contract compliance while completing multi-million-dollar projects on time and within budget.

Since becoming a Mason, a primary joy has been the support of my family and their active involvement with various parts of our Masonic family here in Illinois. My wife and true companion in life has been by my side for more than 25 years and we are looking forward to many more decades together. We have two amazing children. Our daughter just graduated Engineering school in Italy and is expecting our first grandchild. Our son, a Master Mason raised six years ago, is a Deputy Sheriff for Will County and currently working for Prairie Materials as a Technical Service Inspector. Yes, I am proud of our family team and having their full support to take on additional responsibilities for our fraternity in the years ahead is a fact that I cherish. Also, in our limited leisure time, one of our families’ biggest forms of relaxation is taking a ride on our Harley motorcycle and spending time with our Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association brothers and sisters. Yes, I am biased; however, there is nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than being in the open air and viewing the roads of this great state from behind the handlebars of that steel horse.

Yes, Brethren, I genuinely enjoy serving our Illinois Masonic Family in any capacity that I am asked. As a younger man, I did not really know about Freemasonry, and I am so happy to have found it. Becoming an active Brother of our ancient and honorable fraternity has been a positive life changing experience. I have truly found what I needed in my life to help me grow and be the best version of myself. I have not reached that milestone yet and that focus on self-improvement and being useful to others will continue as a beacon light for the future.

R.W.B. Angelo S. Deserio, Junior Grand Deacon