SAMUEL ARTHUR REA

Samuel Arthur Rea died October 22, in his home in Lake Forest Place, Lake Forest, IL He was 92 years old. Samuel A. Rea was born on November 2, 1917 in Fort Wayne Indiana. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1940, and attended Yale Law School for one year before leaving in 1941 to serve in the United States Navy. He flew throughout World War II as a pilot with the Naval Air Transport Services. After the war, Mr. Rea worked with the International Air Transport Association, before returning to Ft. Wayne to work at Rea Magnet Wire Co. He served as President of Rea Magnet Wire from 1954 until 1960, when the company was sold to the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). After leaving Rea Magnet Wire, Mr. Rea became an independent business broker, and in 1968 founded Indiana Capital Corporation, a venture capital firm. Sam Rea was active in Republican politics, including five terms as an elected member of the House of Representatives for the State of Indiana from 1963 to 1972. Mr. Rea was active in civic activities in Indiana. He was the founding President of the Fort Wayne Fine Arts Foundation (now Arts United), served as a Trustee of Wabash College, and was a member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Sam was an avid skier from the earliest days of U.S. skiing, and both flying and sailing remained lifetime passions. Mr. Rea was married to the former Eleanor Appel of Indianapolis and subsequently to the former Elizabeth Ellis of Milwaukee. He is survived by his sister, Sally Rea Oberhelman of Naples, Fla; his children, Samuel A. Rea Jr. of Toronto Canada, Barbara Rea Pearson of Bethlehem, PA, Polly Rea, of Traverse City, MI, Scott Rea of Birmingham, MI, James Rea of Washington, D.C.; and step-sons Charles Zimmerman of Salt Lake City, UT and Robert Zimmerman of Minneapolis, MN; as well as by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, October 28 in the Vail Room at Lake Forest Place, 1100 Pembridge Dr., Lake Forest, IL. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe IL 60022.