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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Harrison I. Steans, who passed away on
4February 26, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans was born in Chicago on July 3,
61935; he spent his childhood in Lake Bluff and Springfield; his
7early years were marked by the energy, intellect, and
8achievement that would characterize his entire life; in high
9school, he was a champion in the Illinois State Latin
10Tournament, and he partnered with his father in bridge
11tournaments around the region, often winning, despite being the
12youngest to compete; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans attended Princeton University on
14a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship; he
15graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1957 with a
16Bachelor of Arts in Economics; he married Lois M. Morrison and
17joined the Navy within weeks of graduating; he was stationed in
18Pearl Harbor and resigned his commission as a Lieutenant; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans went to work as an assistant to
20the legendary Tom Watson at IBM; after several invigorating
21years, he left IBM in 1967 to form Illinois' first single-bank
22holding company to purchase the Hyde Park Bank & Trust; during

 

 

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1his tenure as chairman, the organization grew from a single $40
2million bank to a six-bank holding company with assets
3exceeding $1.8 billion; in 1987, the bank holding company was
4sold to NBD Corporation, now part of the J.P. Morgan Chase
5organization; from 1973 through 1978, he served as Chairman of
6the LaSalle National Bank, where he handled the bank's sale to
7ABN; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In 1994, Harrison Steans and his daughter,
9Jennifer, formed the Steans family investment firm, Financial
10Investments Corporation (FIC), to make private equity
11investments; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans believed strongly in giving back;
13he served on many non-profit boards, including the Civic
14Committee of the Commercial Club, the Chicago Humanities
15Festival, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and The Ounce of
16Prevention Fund; he also served as a Life Trustee of DePaul
17University, Highland Park Hospital, and the Ravinia Festival;
18having enjoyed being a part of the Ravinia family for many
19decades, he took particular pride in being named the only male
20member of the Ravinia Women's Board; and
 
21    WHEREAS, In 1988, Harrison Steans started the Steans Family
22Foundation with his wife, Lois, and his three daughters,
23Jennifer, Heather, and Robin; for nearly 30 years, the

 

 

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1foundation has worked hand in hand with the North Lawndale
2community to promote stronger education, employment, health,
3and safety for its residents; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans was awarded an honorary doctorate
5by DePaul University, the Order of Lincoln, and many other
6business and civic awards as well; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans will be remembered by all who knew
8him for his entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, booming
9laugh, unfailing sense of humor, keen intellect, and his caring
10interest in all around him; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The family of Harrison Steans will remember his
12love of tennis, games of all sorts, clever word play, as well
13as his outsized personality and boundless love and enthusiasm;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans is survived by his sister, Adeline
16Morrison; his wife of 61 years, Lois; his daughters, Jennifer
17(Jim Kastenholz), Illinois State Senator Heather (Leo Smith),
18and Robin (Leonard Gail); his grandchildren, Ryan, Sam, Abby,
19Jessica, Leah, Sydney, and Nick; and many beloved nieces and
20grand-nephews and grand-nieces; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Harrison Steans will be remembered by all who knew

 

 

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1him not just for his many and significant accomplishments, but
2for his personal integrity, sense of social justice, and his
3warmth and playful sense of humor; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6Harrison I. Steans and extend our sincere condolences to his
7family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
8further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Harrison Steans as an expression of
11our deepest sympathy.