ROBERT M. ADY

Robert M. Ady, a resident of Mount Prospect, IL since 1989, formerly of Park Ridge, IL, died July 22, 2012 at Rainbow Hospice in Park Ridge after a six-month battle with prostate cancer. He was the beloved husband of Nancy (Ahrendt) Ady, whom he married Aug. 31, 1957; loving father of Karen (Greg) Buellesbach, Roger (Caryn) and Janet (Annette Larson) Ady; adoring grandfather of Nicholas Buellesbach; brother of Ronald W. Ady; and cousin of Audrey (Fuller) Munger and John Ady. Bob grew up in Elmwood Park, IL, and remained in touch with his boyhood friends, the "Elmwood Park Gang," throughout his life. He was a graduate of Proviso High School and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He earned his MBA from Loyola University of Chicago. Bob was a corporate site selection consultant and he is often credited with helping turn the fledgling field of site selection into a bona fide profession. He spent most of his career at Fantus Consulting, where he served as president for six years. Upon retiring from Fantus, he became co-founder and co-managing director of World Business Chicago, a regional economic development organization that at the time represented over 200 communities in nine counties. In 2001, he founded Ady International Company, a premier site selection consultancy. In 2003 Bob was presented with the Edward deLuca Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Economic Development Council. His proudest professional accomplishment was the creation of a professional association of site selectors, the Site Selectors Guild, in 2010. He was elected President of that organization and served in that capacity until his passing. Despite his strong commitment to his profession, Bob had many other interests. One of his greatest passions was travel. He and Nancy traveled to all seven continents, some many times. At their 50th wedding anniversary celebration-attended by many of their traveling companions, each table was themed with a different continent. Bob was actively involved in the Park Ridge Community Church and served as an Alderman for the 3rd ward on the Park Ridge City Council in the late 70s and early 80s. He also was an avid tennis player and played weekly for decades until earlier this year. Despite his busy schedule, Bob spent a great deal of his time with his family and friends. He was a tribe leader to the Indian Guides and Indian Princesses when his children were young, and took his son on several father-son trips; these included canoeing in the Boundary Waters, rafting down the Wolf River, hiking in Glacier National Park, and most recently, kayaking in Mongolia. He surprised his entire family with a Hawaiian vacation in 2003 and with Nancy's complicity, hosted dozens of parties and group events at his beloved lake home in Wisconsin over the years. Bob related to people from all walks of life and was a natural mentor and leader to those around him. A Service of Remembrance will be held at the Park Ridge Community Church, 100 S. Courtland Ave., Park Ridge, IL, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, followed by a luncheon at the church. The family suggests Memorial gifts on his behalf to the Park Ridge Community Church