Alan J. Altheimer, 95, of Highland Park, who built up one of Chicago's most prominent law firms while also working to combat social injustice and improve race relations in an oftentimes intolerant city, died of heart failure Tuesday in Highland Park Hospital.
"He was a prophetic man," said Rabbi Robert J. Marx, founder of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, an organization with which Mr. Altheimer was closely aligned. "He saw a call to justice. Alan could never say `no' to people who really needed his help. He was remarkably generous of himself in this way."
Mr. Altheimer was born in St. Louis and raised in Little Rock, Ark., when bigotry toward African-Americans knew no bounds. When he was about 12, he witnessed a Ku Klux Klan march through town.
He studied law at Columbia University, graduating in 1925. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar the following year and joined his uncle's Chicago law firm, Altheimer, Mayer, Woods & Smith.
Mr. Altheimer never left the firm and never retired. Until he became ill two weeks ago, he came to the office four days a week, providing daily counsel.
During those 73 years, Mr. Altheimer came to lead the firm, which underwent several name changes before becoming known simply as Altheimer & Gray.
In 1960, when Milton H. Gray signed on as a partner, there were seven other lawyers in the firm. Now there are nearly 300, Gray said. The firm, at 10 S. Wacker Drive, also has offices in Washington, Springfield and eight cities overseas.
Throughout his career, Mr. Altheimer was considered an extremely able general practitioner who valued integrity in his employees. "He was a good litigator, he was a good corporate man, and he was extremely good in family matters, counseling families on wills, trusts and the like," said Gray.
After Chicago's racial turmoil in the 1960s, Mr. Altheimer became deeply involved in the newly formed Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, serving as its president for many years and as a member of its board of directors. The council provides staffing for community groups striving to improve housing, business opportunities and education in low-income neighborhoods.
Through the council and other means, Mr. Altheimer sought to promote a dialogue between Chicago's black and white leaders. He worked closely with former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Jesse Jackson.
He was a past president of the North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe.
Survivors include two daughters, Alice Strauss and Edith Katz Grant; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 N. Sheridan Rd., Glencoe.
Chicago Tribune – April 04, 1999.
"He was a prophetic man," said Rabbi Robert J. Marx, founder of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, an organization with which Mr. Altheimer was closely aligned. "He saw a call to justice. Alan could never say `no' to people who really needed his help. He was remarkably generous of himself in this way."
Mr. Altheimer was born in St. Louis and raised in Little Rock, Ark., when bigotry toward African-Americans knew no bounds. When he was about 12, he witnessed a Ku Klux Klan march through town.
He studied law at Columbia University, graduating in 1925. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar the following year and joined his uncle's Chicago law firm, Altheimer, Mayer, Woods & Smith.
Mr. Altheimer never left the firm and never retired. Until he became ill two weeks ago, he came to the office four days a week, providing daily counsel.
During those 73 years, Mr. Altheimer came to lead the firm, which underwent several name changes before becoming known simply as Altheimer & Gray.
In 1960, when Milton H. Gray signed on as a partner, there were seven other lawyers in the firm. Now there are nearly 300, Gray said. The firm, at 10 S. Wacker Drive, also has offices in Washington, Springfield and eight cities overseas.
Throughout his career, Mr. Altheimer was considered an extremely able general practitioner who valued integrity in his employees. "He was a good litigator, he was a good corporate man, and he was extremely good in family matters, counseling families on wills, trusts and the like," said Gray.
After Chicago's racial turmoil in the 1960s, Mr. Altheimer became deeply involved in the newly formed Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, serving as its president for many years and as a member of its board of directors. The council provides staffing for community groups striving to improve housing, business opportunities and education in low-income neighborhoods.
Through the council and other means, Mr. Altheimer sought to promote a dialogue between Chicago's black and white leaders. He worked closely with former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Jesse Jackson.
He was a past president of the North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe.
Survivors include two daughters, Alice Strauss and Edith Katz Grant; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 N. Sheridan Rd., Glencoe.
Chicago Tribune – April 04, 1999.
Alan J. Altheimer, 95, of Highland Park, who built up one of Chicago's most prominent law firms while also working to combat social injustice and improve race relations in an oftentimes intolerant city, died of heart failure Tuesday in Highland Park Hospital.
"He was a prophetic man," said Rabbi Robert J. Marx, founder of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, an organization with which Mr. Altheimer was closely aligned. "He saw a call to justice. Alan could never say `no' to people who really needed his help. He was remarkably generous of himself in this way."
Mr. Altheimer was born in St. Louis and raised in Little Rock, Ark., when bigotry toward African-Americans knew no bounds. When he was about 12, he witnessed a Ku Klux Klan march through town.
He studied law at Columbia University, graduating in 1925. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar the following year and joined his uncle's Chicago law firm, Altheimer, Mayer, Woods & Smith.
Mr. Altheimer never left the firm and never retired. Until he became ill two weeks ago, he came to the office four days a week, providing daily counsel.
During those 73 years, Mr. Altheimer came to lead the firm, which underwent several name changes before becoming known simply as Altheimer & Gray.
In 1960, when Milton H. Gray signed on as a partner, there were seven other lawyers in the firm. Now there are nearly 300, Gray said. The firm, at 10 S. Wacker Drive, also has offices in Washington, Springfield and eight cities overseas.
Throughout his career, Mr. Altheimer was considered an extremely able general practitioner who valued integrity in his employees. "He was a good litigator, he was a good corporate man, and he was extremely good in family matters, counseling families on wills, trusts and the like," said Gray.
After Chicago's racial turmoil in the 1960s, Mr. Altheimer became deeply involved in the newly formed Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, serving as its president for many years and as a member of its board of directors. The council provides staffing for community groups striving to improve housing, business opportunities and education in low-income neighborhoods.
Through the council and other means, Mr. Altheimer sought to promote a dialogue between Chicago's black and white leaders. He worked closely with former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Jesse Jackson.
He was a past president of the North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe.
Survivors include two daughters, Alice Strauss and Edith Katz Grant; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 N. Sheridan Rd., Glencoe.
Chicago Tribune – April 04, 1999.
"He was a prophetic man," said Rabbi Robert J. Marx, founder of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, an organization with which Mr. Altheimer was closely aligned. "He saw a call to justice. Alan could never say `no' to people who really needed his help. He was remarkably generous of himself in this way."
Mr. Altheimer was born in St. Louis and raised in Little Rock, Ark., when bigotry toward African-Americans knew no bounds. When he was about 12, he witnessed a Ku Klux Klan march through town.
He studied law at Columbia University, graduating in 1925. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar the following year and joined his uncle's Chicago law firm, Altheimer, Mayer, Woods & Smith.
Mr. Altheimer never left the firm and never retired. Until he became ill two weeks ago, he came to the office four days a week, providing daily counsel.
During those 73 years, Mr. Altheimer came to lead the firm, which underwent several name changes before becoming known simply as Altheimer & Gray.
In 1960, when Milton H. Gray signed on as a partner, there were seven other lawyers in the firm. Now there are nearly 300, Gray said. The firm, at 10 S. Wacker Drive, also has offices in Washington, Springfield and eight cities overseas.
Throughout his career, Mr. Altheimer was considered an extremely able general practitioner who valued integrity in his employees. "He was a good litigator, he was a good corporate man, and he was extremely good in family matters, counseling families on wills, trusts and the like," said Gray.
After Chicago's racial turmoil in the 1960s, Mr. Altheimer became deeply involved in the newly formed Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, serving as its president for many years and as a member of its board of directors. The council provides staffing for community groups striving to improve housing, business opportunities and education in low-income neighborhoods.
Through the council and other means, Mr. Altheimer sought to promote a dialogue between Chicago's black and white leaders. He worked closely with former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Jesse Jackson.
He was a past president of the North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe.
Survivors include two daughters, Alice Strauss and Edith Katz Grant; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 N. Sheridan Rd., Glencoe.
Chicago Tribune – April 04, 1999.
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