Norman Elkin

Norman Elkin, a devoted husband, loving family man, proud World War II veteran and award-winning urban planner passed away peacefully at his home in Glenview, Illinois on January 27, 2025 at the age of 100.

A loyal and steadfast friend to many throughout his long life, Norman was a patient and understanding husband and father, a gentle giver of sage advice and the ultimate caregiver who comforted those close to him through illness or other challenges. Despite giving so much to others, Norman remained an avid reader, a lover of music and someone committed to lifelong learning even as his health faltered in his final years.

The son of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, Elkin is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Betty Elkin, and daughters Karen, Laurie (Ken Snedegar) and Vicki (Mike Ivey). He is also survived by grandchildren Aria Snedegar, Claire Snedegar and Alex Ivey along with nieces Julie Foreman and Joyce Foreman and nephews Robin Webb and Carl Webb. Norman was proceeded in death by his parents, Louis and Fannie, sisters Clara and Pauline and nephew Burton Leahy.

Norman was born March 25, 1924 and grew up in the Humboldt Park Neighborhood on Chicago’s west side. Norman shared many stories of growing up in a tight-knit community including countless afternoons at the Deborah Boys Club and weekends playing in his beloved Humboldt Park itself. He continued to stay in touch with “the boys from the neighborhood” with regular lunch gatherings well into his 90s.

Norman graduated from Tuley High School, earned an associate degree at Wright Junior College and during World War II enlisted with childhood friends Irving “Sonny” Weiner and Harold Burns. His military service took Norman first to southern California – a move which opened a brilliant young man’s eyes to the broader world – and later to the Philippines as a Navy medic.

Following the war, Norman took advantage of the G.I. Bill to enroll at the University of Chicago, where he earned a master’s degree in social science in 1949 and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He began his professional career as executive secretary to Hyde Park Ald. Robert Merriam and later worked as a City Council staff member before becoming director of Community Renewal with the City Planning Department, where he met the love of his life Betty (nee Lee).

Norman shifted to the private sector in 1960 where he enjoyed a long and successful career in real estate development as an early proponent of mixed-use planning concepts with stints at Jack Meltzer Associates and Leo Shapiro & Associates. His career then took him and the young family to Boston in 1968-69 with Norman working as project director at the Lemberg Center for the Study of Violence at Brandeis University.

Norman returned to Chicago to work on the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention as executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Urban Area Government before starting a 25-year career as an officer and head of the planning department with Urban Investment & Development Co., which later became JMB/Urban Development Co. Among the many notable projects on his resume are 333 West Wacker Drive, Dearborn Park, and Water Tower Place, all in Chicago, Copley Place in Boston and Farmers Market in LA where he garnered community and governmental support and approval for the project which would later become The Grove at Farmers Market. Additionally, he was involved in myriad projects across the country and several of the shopping centers in the Chicago area.

In the civic sphere, Norman served on the Commission to Save the Chicago Theatre; Mayor Harold Washington’s Citizens Advisory Committee on a New Central Library; the Mayor’s Task Force to restore the Boulevard System and was twice elected to the New Trier Township High School Board of Education. Norman earned a lifetime achievement award from Chicago’s Friends of Downtown in 1986.

Perhaps Norman’s proudest public realm accomplishment was serving on the Board of the Greater State Street Council. He chaired the group’s long-range planning effort, culminating in the Future of Greater State Street “Blue Book” in 1987 which has served as the template for ongoing preservation of the iconic downtown corridor. He also chaired the Retail Task Force for State Street that produced the 2000 Central Area Plan still in effect today.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 30 at 11:00 at Ridgewood Memorial Park at 9900 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Des Plaines, Illinois. Additional information can be found on the Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Friends of Downtown, Shriners Children’s or a charity of your choice.