Kenneth "Pete" M. Henderson Jr.

Pete and his wife Jean merged their families in 1972 following the death of his first wife, Nancy Nichols Henderson. They took great pride in the success of that merger and in the satisfying lives lived by their 7 combined children: Tim Massey, M.D. (Roxanne); Stephanie Hall Murphy, Scott Massey (Lori); John Henderson (the late Jip Chitnarong); Charles Henderson (Lori Anne); Guy Massey (Kristin); and Murph Henderson; beloved grandchildren Kate, Ben (Caroline); Kelsey (Mick Van Vossen); Jackson Murphy, and Andrew and Daniel Henderson; and three great grandchildren.

Other sources of special pleasure in Pete’s life included far-flung friends with whom he was in frequent contact; Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1951 and with which he was actively engaged throughout his life; and the Chicago Cubs. Every day spent at Wrigley Field or at spring training in Arizona was a highlight for him.

Pete was unusual in his focus on career and life planning. With the goal of getting all there was from life and indulging fully his wide interests, he initiated job changes at approximately 10-year intervals. After graduating from Dartmouth, he served for 3 years as a Lieutenant (junior grade) aboard a destroyer in the U.S. Navy. In succeeding episodes, he was a plant manager for Inland Steel Products Company; a vice president with the management consulting firm of Booz, Allen & Hamilton; Associate Dean and professor of Management at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; executive director of Chicago United, a not-for-profit organization of Black, white, and Hispanic chief executives addressing the city of Chicago’s most pressing problems; and executive vice president of Jannotta, Bray & Henderson, an executive outplacement firm.

“Giving back” was a constant in Pete’s life. He guided and inspired neighbors, relatives, colleagues, and friends who sought his counsel to shape their own professional lives. More formally, he served as president of the Winnetka Board of Education and chair of the Community Renewal Society. He was a board member of the Winnetka Community House, the Evanston Community Foundation, the North Shore Country Day School, and the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities. Pete was recognized by Dartmouth with its Alumni Award and by his class with its “Spirit of ‘51” Award. He and Jean were each named Winnetka’s Man/Woman of the Year.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 1, 2026 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Evanston, 516 Church Street, Evanston, Illinois 60201. A reception will follow. The family asks that those who wish to remember Pete may do so by making a contribution to the Evanston Community Foundation (https://evanstonforever.org/giving) or Dartmouth College.