Ray Greenblatt

1931 - 2016

Greenblatt, Ray Harris, 84, of Winnetka, Illinois died February 25, 2016. Born June 29, 1931 in Shorewood, Wisconsin, and elected to the Wisconsin All-State high school football team in 1949, Ray graduated as Valedictorian of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1953. He was a 1956 graduate of Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Ray joined the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago in 1956. His career there spanned 36 years during which he earned a national reputation in banking and financial services and rose to become one of Chicago's leading corporate lawyers, ultimately serving on his firm's management committee. He was elected President of the Winnetka Public School Board, serving from 1969-1975. In retirement he became a volunteer teacher of poetry, consumer economics and debate to kids at Providence St. Mel School, an inner-city Chicago private school (K-12) and served as President of the Chicago Literary Club. Above all, he was a loving family man and a loyal friend. A devoted husband and father, he was widowed when his youngest son was born, and from that time forward he raised three sons, with patience and humor, as a nurturing single parent. He remained ever a caring and involved grandfather, son and brother. Ray's beloved wife, Betty Greenblatt nee Goldsmith, predeceased him by 49 years. He is survived by his sons Walter (Elyssa), Robert (Scott) and Edward (Nina) and by his grandchildren Daniel, Jordan, Susannah, Adam, Jacob and Milo Greenblatt. Funeral Services will be held Sunday March 13, 2016 at 2 pm at the Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Boulevard, Wilmette, IL 60091. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the UNCF (formerly The United Negro College Fund), 105 W. Adams Street, Suite 2400 Chicago, IL. 60603 or the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022.