Alan S. Gratch

Alan S. Gratch, 90

Husband of Sallie E. Gratch nee Eichengreen. Father of the late Brian (Michelle Ney) Gratch, of Joel (Reese) Gratch and of Mikel (Dan) Charlton. Grandfather of Stephanie (Henry) Mooney, Becca (Michael Mooney) Gratch, Simon (Madison) Gratch, Helen Gratch, Anton Gratch, Sabine Gratch, Nicholas Carter, Caleb Carter, Braden Carter and Sabrina Carter. Great-grandfather of Alice and Edith Mooney. Brother of the late Arleen Lehman. Alan was born on the south side of Chicago February 18, 1935. He began his educational journey at public school and graduated from Harvard School for Boys. Alan met his wife of 68 years during high school on a blind date. They married in 1957, the same year he earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard, magna cum laude. He continued his education at Harvard Law school, where he also served on the Harvard Law Review. Following graduation from law school, he studied at the London School of Economics on a Knox Fellowship. Alan was a member of the Army Reserves JAG Corp while launching his law practice in Chicago. He regarded himself as a lawyers' lawyer, helping other law professionals in the firm to navigate challenges in complex litigation. After 20 years, Alan left his legal practice to become a professor of law at Loyola University of Chicago with the desire to instill in others not only knowledge, but curiosity, through the art of thinking. In 1991, Alan was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to teach in Kiev, Ukraine. He lent his support to many organizations with not only financial contributions, but his time as well. Alan served on several boards, including Jewish Children's Bureau, Michael Reese Hospital and Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, serving as President. He was also extremely supportive to Sallie in founding Project Kesher. He had a passion for his family, traveling and the great outdoors. This was evident in the many world wide family adventures, from Bangkok to Bonaire and many places in between. Alan loved tennis, camping, hiking, scuba diving and skiing. Alan's favorite place of all was their log cabin on 160 acres in NW Montana. Not only was Alan an intellectual powerhouse and a lover of nature but he was creative as well. He loved to cook, bake, fix and build things. Alan expressed deep interest in others and their passions from wind surfing to how to make maple syrup.

Services will be held Friday at 1PM at Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC), 303 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to JRC, www.jrc-evanston.org or Project Kesher, 2660 Broadway #16, New York, NY 10025, www.projectkesher.org, or Compassion & Choices for legislative efforts in Illinois, PO Box 485, Etna, NH 03750, www.compassionandchoices.org. To attend the funeral livestream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com