Herbert B. Knight

It is with joy for his life and sadness at his absence that we inform you that Herbert Borwell Knight, a long-time resident of the Fox Valley, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2024 at age 96 in the presence of his children. He was born on July 4, 1928, to Herbert A. Knight and Bessie (nee Borwell) Knight. Raised in Oak Park, IL, he graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1947 and and Dartmouth College, with a BS in '51, and an MBA from the Amos Tuck school of Business in '52.
In 1963, he married Nancy Knight (nee Gordon) from Wilmette, IL. In 1965 he and Nancy had twins, Thomas Gordon Knight and Sharon Anne Knight. By 1967, Herb and Nancy were settled in Geneva and members of the Geneva Golf Club where they made lifelong friendships. While Nancy served on the Geneva School Board, Herb served on the Geneva Park Board where he was instrumental in creating Wheeler Park along the Fox River where the Old Mill stood.
Herb began his professional career in commercial banking at Harris Bank in Chicago but shifted quickly to management consulting (George Fry) where he spent several years serving clients in the States and in Mexico, After marrying Nancy, he settled into a career in manufacturing management (A.O.Smith, Allsteel). In 1975, the family moved to Virginia when Herb became President of the nuclear power company Newport News Industrial Corporation (NNI) a sister of Newport News Shipbuilding, one of three builders of cruisers, submarines, and aircraft carriers for the US Navy. Both were subsidiaries of Tenneco, the Houston, TX based conglomerate. In 1980, Herb moved to Tenneco's corporate office where he worked in strategy and acquisitions in oil and gas, agricultural and automotive products, and ultimately agricultural equipment with the acquisition of International Harvester's tractor division by Case Tractor, a subsidiary.
Herb and Nancy returned to the St. Charles in 1986 and joined the Dunham Woods Riding Club. Herb exemplified commitment to community in all forms, giving of his time, talent, and treasure. His most significant contributions were made as a board member of Rush Medical Center Chicago, where he was chair of the Finance Committee, and Rush Copley in Aurora where he served as the Medical Center's representative during its acquisition of Copley Hospital, and subsequently a Rush Copley board member. His Rush board service lasted 32 years.
Herb (and Nancy) were also deeply committed to St. Mark's Episcopal Church where they became parishioners in 1967. They supported initiatives to increase the church's capacity to serve the community, improve its financial health, and to enhance and protect its historic chapel.
Herb had a lifelong commitment to education. In 2001, he and two Dartmouth classmates led a fundraising effort for the Class of 1951's 50th Reunion, raising an alumni record of over $5.1M. Locally, Herb was on the board of the Illinois Math and Science Academy; he took pride in the IMSA students' accomplishments and started a scholarship to support their post-secondary education. As an avid bird hunter and fisherman, he supported the conservation efforts of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in Dundee, IL.
Herb is survived by his sister, Sarah Hindle of Concord, MA, Tom Knight of Oak Park, IL (Alicia Sams), Sharon Knight (John Hornbaker) of Sun Valley, Idaho, and Tom's daughters Caroline Knight and Margaret Knight. Nancy preceded Herb in death on July 9, 2019.
A special thanks to Alie Johnson and her team at Amada Health for their support of Herb at the end of his life, and to his friends for their kindness and generosity over the years.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Knight Family Scholarship Fund at the and –.