Edward Christie

Edward Clarke ("Tim") Christie died on September 27, 2015 from complications related to Parkinson's disease. Tim, a lifelong resident of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff area, a gifted landscape designer and a strong community enthusiast, was 70. His warm nature, sense of humor and dedication to public service endeared him to many. Tim attended the public schools in Lake Forest and graduated with a BA degree from Denison University in 1967. Upon his return from college, he began a career at Hewitt Associates in Deerfield. During his time there he was a senior communications consultant to Fortune 500 companies and provided a variety of support services to Hewitt's senior management. Among other duties he used his many communication and writing skills to translate complicated pension and work benefit plans into words that client employees could understand. In his own words, Tim said, "I wrote delightful books on getting to know your pension plans." In 1990, at the age of 45, Tim's interest and passion for gardening prompted him to leave his business career behind and to form his own landscaping design firm, The Private Garden. There he designed and implemented the planting of many of this area's most interesting and imaginative gardens featuring a more natural look often with native plants and ornamental grasses. The nature of his work caught the attention of The Wall Street Journal that featured a front-page story on June 13, 1997 about The Private Garden entitled "Best-Dressed Lawns Look a Bit Scruffy," complete with a charming caricature drawing of Tim. Of his decision to leave the business world, Tim told the reporter he figured he was "worse off financially, but better off emotionally" because he liked what he was doing so much. Tim worked as the architectural/landscape consultant and property manager for the Conway Farms and Middlefork Farms communities. He also worked as a designer and client relations specialist for several firms on the North Shore, including Rocco Fiore & Sons, Mariani Landscape and Wright Landscaping. Tim was a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and served a term as its President in 1998. Tim's greatest love was his community. He served with diligence and good humor on many Lake Forest Boards and Commissions, including the Historic Preservation Commission (as its first Chairman), the Building Review Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission. He assisted the City in the redesign of Triangle Park and a landscaping project for the Public Library. His volunteer public service work for Lake Forest was recognized by the City last year when he received The Lawrence R. Temple Distinguished Public Service Award. Tim was also the Executive Director of the Lake Forest Trust, a private organization dedicated to the preservation of architecture and landscape in Lake Forest. He was an eminent authority on the history of this area and loved on many formal and informal occasions to tell fascinating stories of the prominent (and less prominent) people and places of the past. Over the past fourteen years, Tim donated his significant energy and talents to the Lambs Farm for the landscaping of its nine campus group homes and later in the development of a fountain garden for the campus apartment building and its beautiful new Tribute Garden. His powers of persuasion caused many local nurseries to donate to these projects. For that service he received the Lambs Farm Casanova Award in 2014, chosen because of his belief in the mission of Lambs Farm and his commitment to its fulfillment of that mission. From his childhood Tim was connected with the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest in many different ways. Over the years, he served his Church in many capacities, including as an elder and as a member of its 150th Anniversary Steering Committee. Tim was the son of Jack and Pauline Christie of Lake Forest and is survived by his brother John of Chestertown, Maryland, seven nieces and nephews and thirteen grand nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest on Monday, November 23, 2015 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tim's name may be sent to the Lambs Farm. Info at 87-234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com.