Stanley B. Tamkin

Stanley B. Tamkin, 91, died Thursday, August 5th, of congestive heart failure and Covid. He was the beloved husband of Margo Morris Tamkin; loving father of Bradley, Mitch (Alice), Sam (Ilyce), Linda (Simon) Waller; beloved stepfather of Marya (Peter) Frankel and Erika (Noah) Carey; adored grandfather to Marifer and Dany Tamkin; Marcus, Emilia, and Eva Tamkin; Alex and Michael Tamkin; Jamie, Sophie, and Christina Waller; Emily, Katy and Izzy Flood, and Nicholas and Jacob Erhart; Joe, Simon and Annie Frankel; and Grace, Simon, and Maddy Carey. He was a treasured uncle, friend, confident and mentor to many.

Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Stan obtained his B.A. from Boston University in 1952 and a Master’s Degree in 1953.

He had a successful career in the paper and packaging industry, rising from the factory floor to Group Vice President and member of the board of directors of Container Corporation of America, as well as the boards of all foreign subsidiary corporations. After that, he consulted internationally, became President of Plastofilm Industries, in Wheaton, Illinois, and later became CEO and part-owner of FSC Paper, in Alsip, Illinois. He retired in 1997.

Stan loved modern and Latin American art, opera, theater, classical music, and literature, and wove culture into the corporate fabric of the companies and divisions he led. He conceived and directed a unique corporate communication program to enhance the image of Container Corporation’s subsidiary companies. Artes Graficas Panamericanas, a graphic arts program consisting of over 400 commissioned works of Latin American artists, was exhibited in major museums throughout the world and was eventually made into various books. He oversaw documentary Latin American art films which won a silver medal and two bronze medals at the New York International Film Festival. He instituted a historical book publishing program dealing with Mexican and Latin American subjects, and promoted and established educational and cultural activities for his employees and their families.

Stan and his first wife, Marilyn, were married in 1953, moved to Mexico in 1958, and raised their children there. Stan loved the people and culture of Mexico, and spoke fluent Spanish. He traveled all over the world for work and pleasure, visiting art galleries and museums. He and Marilyn divorced in 1974.

Stan moved to Chicago in 1975 and met Margo Morris in 1979. During their 42 years together, Margo and Stan shared a passion for art and spent countless evenings attending opera, theater and the symphony in Chicago. They relished their winters in Long Boat Key, Florida with a crowd of Stan’s childhood friends and spouses.They embraced the role as “Yia Yia and Papou '' to 21 grandchildren and loved discussing art, movies and current events with all of them. Laughter was a big part Stan’s life, as well as elaborate story telling. He and Margo loved entertaining the grandchildren and watching them run up and down the huge sofa, which was lovingly referred to as “the SS Tamkin.”

Stan loved and played sports, most notably golf (he won several Amateur National Golf Championships in Mexico), tennis, rowing (he rowed Varsity Crew at Boston University) and ping pong. In his later years, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports competitively. Stan and Margo supported many nonprofits, including the National Museum of Mexican Art, in Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo, Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago Botanic Garden, and many other cultural institutions. Stan made a lasting impact on many people around the world and will be dearly missed by all.

The funeral service will be private for family, but can be found on the Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home Facebook page Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 10:00 a.m CST. See link below. There will be a private burial immediately following the service at Rosehill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends of Port Rowing (PortRowing.org), an organization Stan supported and loved.