I am deeply saddened to hear that my colleague from The University of Chicago, Jim Crown, passed away on his birthday yesterday following a motorsport accident. Jim was an unbelievable business and philanthropic icon, and his commitment to improving the lives of others had a direct impact on his hometown of Chicago and beyond.
Jim served in various leadership roles, including Chairman Emeritus of the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the Civic Committee's Public Safety Task Force. He was also a member of the Intelligence Advisory Board to the Obama Whitehouse, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Jim will be remembered for his incredible commitment to making a positive impact across civic, business, and legal communities throughout his career. As a colleague, I’ll always remember Jim as a dynamic and profoundly passionate innovator who left a lasting influence on all of those who surrounded him.
I offer my deepest condolences to Jim’s wife, Paula, the entire Crown family, and the many lives he touched on this very sad day.
