Franklin Allen "Frank" Chanen

On November 6, 2025, Franklin Allen Chanen died peacefully at a hospice facility in Naples, Florida. He was 92. Often referred to as "a prince of a man," Frank Chanen was kind, considerate, caring, thoughtful, and wise, and those who knew him well simply felt an aura of peace in his presence.

Born March 12, 1933, to Sam and Sonia Chanen in Burlington, Iowa, Frank was first in his class at Burlington High School and attended Northwestern University. He studied journalism and accounting, got a B.A. in journalism in 1954, passed the CPA exam the same year, received a J.D. from Northwestern Law School in 1957, and practiced law for 15 years at Liebman, Williams, Bennett, Baird, and Minow, before the Liebman firm merged into Sidley & Austin in 1972, where

he continued to practice until 1993.

As early as college, Frank learned that he had a rare eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa ("RP"), which caused a gradual loss of his peripheral vision. He never let his visual impairment define him, however, insisting on living as full a life as his disability allowed. This included extensive travels throughout the world with his wife Doralu and other friends and family and included competitive tennis with friends. It would not be unusual for Frank to hit an excellent shot of a fast-moving ball, but still not be able to see a ball just sitting still by his feet because his narrow range of peripheral vision made that difficult. He always persevered and never once complained or felt sorry himself.

Frank also had a lifelong commitment to assisting others who were blind and visually impaired. Frank served terms as Board Chair of both the RP Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. With his dear friend, ophthalmologist, Dr. Joel Kaplan, Frank and Joel spearheaded the Lighthouse's "Bold Vision" capital campaign from 2005-07, and Frank considered that campaign to be one of his proudest personal accomplishments.

Frank was also a lover of classical music and served for many years on the Board of the Aspen Music Festival, in Aspen, Colorado.

Known for his professional ethics and good judgment, Frank was a very brilliant, meticulous, and sought-after legal counselor. Out of humility and confidentiality, he never

discussed his famous clients, but now, more than 40 years later, we can boast that he served as an invaluable counselor to many of Chicago's most well-known families and family businesses.

Frank is survived by his wife of more than 69 years, Doralu (Kohlman) Chanen, two sons, Stuart and Bruce, two daughters-in-law, Julie Fenton and Nicole Berry, and four grandchildren, Elliot, Emma, Alexander, and Sydney Chanen. Frank was preceded in death by his oldest son, Greg, who died in 2014, and his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Irv Stein of Burlington.

Frank was beloved by many dear, dear friends, both in Chicago and Naples, where he made his second home, and eventually moved full time in 2020.

The Chanen Family requests that any gifts in his honor be made to the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, or the Lighthouse of Collier County, in Naples, Florida.