James White Haugh

James White Haugh ("Jim") passed away on January 27, 2026, after a brief and aggressive illness. He was 89 years old. He died surrounded by family, having lived a life marked by service, integrity, faith, and devotion.

Jim was born on January 12, 1937, in Chicago and raised in the city's Austin neighborhood, the eldest of three children. From an early age, he carried a strong sense of responsibility and care for others, traits that would define his life as a husband, father, grandfather, colleague, and community leader.

Jim attended Bishop Quarter Junior Military Academy, New Trier High School, Princeton University (Class of 1958), the University of Michigan Law School, and completed postgraduate work at the University of Chicago's economics program. Jim also served as an Army Intelligence Officer in the early 1960's.

Jim spent much of his career as a partner at KPMG, where he became a nationally respected authority in bank taxation and helped build the firm's bank tax practice into a leading national model. Known for his thoughtfulness, fairness, and precision, he was a trusted advisor to family-owned businesses, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations alike. He had a gift for stewardship—of people, institutions, and long-term thinking—and was often the steady hand guiding others through complexity.

While his academic and professional accomplishments were significant, Jim rarely spoke of them for their own sake. What mattered most to him was using his knowledge in service of others. He served as President of the District 181 Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills School Board, and held leadership and board roles with Dominican University, Art Resources in Teaching (ART), The Great Books Foundation, and Catholic Theological Union. He was President of the Hinsdale Golf Club and served on several professional boards, including Harris Bank Hinsdale, First Interstate BancSystem, and Clare Holdings. His advocacy for public education, equity, and thoughtful governance reflected a broad, inclusive worldview shaped by his upbringing and lived experience across many communities.

Jim was far from the stereotype of a reserved accountant. He was a fiercely loyal sports fan, forever cheering on his beloved, and often bemoaned, White Sox, Bulls, and Princeton Tigers. He was also a passionate golfer who enjoyed rounds with friends and family at home and abroad. He especially cherished Saturday-morning doubles tennis, which he played almost every week for more than thirty years.

Music was a constant presence in his life. A longtime attendee and patron of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jim was also a devoted member of the Jolly Boys, one of the oldest and longest-standing choral groups in the Chicago area, with whom he sang for many years. He delighted in classical music, especially Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler, and had a gift for bringing it to life through stories and anecdotes that made the music accessible and human. One of his favorite stories involved an encounter with acclaimed conductor Riccardo Muti, who took a particular shine to "Janie," Jim's wife of 58 years, despite her not sharing quite the same level of passion for orchestral music.

Throughout his life, Jim found the greatest joy in his family. He took immense pride in his four children and twelve grandchildren, following their lives closely, celebrating their accomplishments, and sharing their stories with friends and colleagues. He also loved to travel, especially trips to Princeton for class reunions, time at his home on Little Traverse Bay in northern Michigan, and journeys to Montana and Wyoming for both work and play. Wherever he went, he rarely missed an opportunity to send a postcard or note along the way.

Perhaps Jim's most profound expression of love was in his devotion to his wife, Jane (née McFeatters). Married for 58 years, Jim spent his later years caring tenderly and patiently for Jane as she lived with Alzheimer's disease. He often described this chapter as simply giving back for all the years she had given to him.

Jim will be remembered for his gregarious laugh, his readiness to sing, his principled leadership, and his kindness. He instinctively chose service over self-promotion, substance over show, and people over accolades. His presence brought steadiness, warmth, and humanity to every room he entered.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jane; his four children, Betsy (Michael) Berman, Suzy (Henry) Persons, Ellen (Ben) Rose, and Patrick (Emma) Haugh; his sister, Marjorie; and his twelve grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert (Ann) Haugh.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on February 20, 2026, at St. Isaac Jogues Church, 306 W. 4th Street, Hinsdale, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jim's memory to the Alzheimer's Association of America (www.alz.org).