BERT GETZ

GETZ--Bert Atwater. Bert Atwater Getz was peacefully received into God's arms on August 31, 2025 in his home at Stonehenge Farm in Libertyville, Illinois at the age of 88. Bert was born in Chicago, Illinois, the second son of George Fulmer Getz Jr. and Olive Atwater Getz. Bert spent his childhood in the Chicago area, and their summers at their cherished home on Lake Geneva. Bert went on to attend The Lawrenceville School before matriculating to the University of Michigan where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree. As an accomplished swimmer, Bert captained The Lawrenceville School swim team and spent his summers working on the Water Safety Patrol on Lake Geneva, where he once saved a man from drowning. While home from Lawrenceville for the Christmas holiday in 1954, Bert met the love of his life, Sandra "Sandy" Maclean. After four years of courtship, the two wed in 1958 and enjoyed 67 wonderful years of marriage. Bert and Sandy started their family in Northfield, Illinois where they had their three children, Sandra Lynn Getz, George Fulmer Getz, and Bert Atwater Getz Jr. In 1970, Bert and Sandy moved their family to Arizona, where Bert made a sizable investment in The Arizona Bank. In his later years, Bert and Sandy split time between their home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Stonehenge Farm. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Bert joined his father working for the family company, Globe Corporation, where he later had the privilege of working alongside his two sons and daughter. Bert had a mind for business, and throughout the course of his over 65-year career, found success and enjoyment in banking, ranching, real estate, and golf, among other areas of interest. Bert held many board positions including Chairman of Globe Corporation, having served as its President from 1974 to 1999. He served as a director of both Security Pacific Bank and The Continental Bank and was appointed under the Reagan administration to the board of the Federal National Mortgage Association. Additionally, he served as a director of Dean Foods and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Over his career Bert owned and led various banks including the Bank of Belvidere, the Winnetka Bank, and the Upper Avenue Bank. Later in his career, Bert had a vision to build a private golf club, and in 1992 opened the Merit Club as part of Stonehenge Farm. He prided himself on balancing the creation of a championship golf course while securing the beauty of the land in perpetuity. A devoted man of God, Bert was a firm believer that the most change and impact happened beyond the boardroom and in one's own community. As a student at North Shore Country Day School, he embraced their motto "To Live and Serve". Bert embodied this commitment to serving his community his entire life and gave generously and selflessly of his time and resources. Bert sat on numerous charitable boards serving as: Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the Mayo Foundation, Chairman Emeritus of The Lawrenceville School, Director Emeritus of the Indiana University Foundation, and Chairman Emeritus of the Arizona Community Foundation, which he helped establish in 1978. He was an active Phoenix Thunderbird, board member of Phoenix Country Day School, and served on the Dean's Council of the ASU Business College and Board of Visitors of the University of Michigan School of Business. He also held a multitude of roles with various other philanthropies including the Arthur R. Metz Foundation and the Globe Foundation, where he served as president and director. Bert was an active member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Beyond his community service, Bert enjoyed watching his Chicago Cubs and Michigan Wolverines, and travelling the world with Sandy. A six-week trip to the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica with his daughter sparked a lifelong fascination and love of penguins. For decades, he gave presentations to friends and students about his study of the penguins and his time in Antarctica. Humble and unassuming to a fault, Bert burst with pride when talking about his family. As a loving and devoted husband to Sandy, they raised their three children well and with purpose. Bert frequently remarked that his three children and seven grandchildren were his greatest accomplishment and there was nothing that he loved or cherished more than family. Even as he and Sandy grew into their later stages of life, they were constantly on the go, flying across the country and world to see their grandchildren perform and compete in their various activities and sports. Bert treasured having his family at their beloved Stonehenge Farm where he would hear updates on their lives and careers, while, in return, they got to listen to "Pops" tell his life's stories. Bert was preceded in death by his parents, George Fulmer Getz Jr. and Olive Atwater Getz, his brother, George Fulmer Getz III, and his daughter, Sandra Lynn Getz (David Riley). Bert is survived by his wife, Sandra Maclean Getz, his two sons George Fulmer Getz (Dyan Windle) and Bert Atwater Getz Jr. (Susie Schneider), and his seven grandchildren, Alison Getz Bates (Streator), George "Chip" Getz Jr., Lindsay Getz, Bert Getz III, Elsa Schmidt, Lachlan Getz, and Katherine "Kit" Getz. Details of a memorial service can be found at www.donnellanfuneral.com Those wishing to honor Bert are invited to support the Mayo Foundation and/or the Flower Fund at The Lawrenceville School.