Frederick G. Uhlmann

Frederick G. Uhlmann, 93, devoted and adored husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully on May 16th, 2023 at his home in Highland Park, Illinois, surrounded by his loving wife and family members. Born December 31, 1929 to Richard and Rosamond Uhlmann, Mr. Uhlmann grew up in Highland Park, Illinois with his late sister Janis (Joe Weil) and sister Audrey (John Rosenheim).

He attended Ravinia School in Highland Park and Lake Forest Academy before graduating from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia with a degree in Civil War History. In 1951, Mr. Uhlmann married the love of his life, Virginia Uhlmann (Strauss), and together they raised their children and became active members of the Highland Park and Chicago communities.

Mr. Uhlmann’s fifty-year career in the financial markets included two terms as chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), a position his father, Richard, held in the 1940s. Prior to becoming Chairman of the CBOT, Mr. Uhlmann was a Director and Vice Chairman of the Exchange. Under Mr. Uhlmann’s leadership, in 1973 and 1974, the CBOT started trading bonds, expanded its list of commodities to include non-agricultural commodities, built new contract markets and created the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), the first exchange in the world for equity options, of which he was a founding director. Mr. Uhlmann began his career in 1946, as a high school student, learning the commodities trade as a runner on the floor of the CBOT. In 1951, he joined the family business, Uhlmann Grain Company, which later merged with H. Hentz & Co. Later in his career he had senior roles with Drexel Burnham Lambert, Bear Stearns, Dean Witter, Rodman & Renshaw and several other Wall Street and futures firms. In 1997, Mr. Uhlmann founded Uhlmann Investments, a registered investment advisor, which later became Uhlmann Price Securities. In addition to his chairmanship of the CBOT, Mr. Uhlmann served as chairman of the Futures Industry Association (FIA), vice chairman of National Futures Association (NFA) and director of the Institute for Financial Markets (IFM). A pioneer and expert in his industry, Mr. Uhlmann testified many times before Congress about the regulation of the futures markets. He also taught courses and lectured at the Kellogg School of Management, Wharton School of Business and The New School.

Mr. Uhlmann, together with his wife, Virginia, also actively contributed to the community and was a passionate philanthropist, serving as a director of Sinai Community Institute and Mount Sinai Hospital (Chicago), a director of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center (Chicago), trustee of Highland Park Hospital, director of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness and board member of Township High School District 113 (Highland Park and Deerfield). Mr. Uhlmann was also a board member of Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism (Highland Park) and Lake Shore Country Club (Glencoe). Among other charitable causes, the Uhlmanns are also longtime supporters of Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Ravinia Festival and their alma maters, Francis W. Parker School and Washington and Lee University.

Mr. Uhlmann’s proudest achievement was his large and close-knit family, many of whom fondly referred to him as “Pa” and loved him more than words alone. He is survived by his adoring wife of nearly 72 years, Virginia Uhlmann; his five devoted children, Richard (Lisa), Gina, Thomas (Karen), Karen (Robert), and Elizabeth (Michael); his fourteen cherished grandchildren, Daniel (fiancée Rosie), Zachary (Martha), Matthew, Alexander (Amanda), Evan, Gregory (Sam), Jackson (fiancée Jill), Teddy, Molly (Matthew), Haley (Matthew), Hannah, Samuel, Allison and Julia; his seven prized great-grandchildren, Menelik, Emma, Chase, Zoe, Hana, Ellie and Liv; his sister, Audrey (John); his sister-in-law Barbara Lowenbaum; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister-and-brothers in law, Peggy and Charles Aronstam and Ralph Lowenbaum.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Moraine Township Charitable Fund, which supports the Moraine Township’s Food Pantry, PAWS Chicago or a charity of your choice.