Raymond J. Allen, 90, passed away on November 27th at his home in Oak Brook, IL. Ray was born on April 29, 1933 in Oak Park, IL, to Bernice and Raymond Allen, Sr. He attended St. Giles School and Fenwick High School in Oak Park before enrolling in the University of Colorado, where he spent one year. At CU, Ray met his future wife, Sally Nielsen, and they were married in 1954. Soon after, Ray was drafted and spent two years in the U.S. Army at Ft. Riley, Kansas. After Ray fulfilled his military service, he and Sally moved back to Illinois where he completed his education at Roosevelt University. Upon graduation, Ray entered the emerging leasing business. After working for two companies, he started his own in Chicago and within a few years, added a Denver office. Ray purchased a home in the Colorado mountains where his family enjoyed the summer months while he traveled back and forth. Having spent summers in the Rockies with his brother as a child, where their parents had built a cabin, Ray wanted his children to share his love for the mountains. In Chicago, Ray served on the boards of several banks and eventually purchased Park National Bank, with a partner, where he served as President and Chairman of the Board. Simultaneously, Ray was President of the Bank of Highland Park for several years, and a long-serving trustee of Roosevelt University. After his retirement from banking, Ray worked with local manufacturing firms including ECS Corporation where he became owner and Chairman. Ray was a dedicated philanthropist, known as “Santa Claus” in the South Side neighborhoods of Chicago. He began fulfilling the holiday wishes of several children, getting to know their families, who in turn told others about Mr. Claus. The program grew until he was delivering Christmas food and gifts to 250 people, all on his own. Additionally, Ray was active in the Elmhurst community, where he and Sally raised their family. He served terms on the boards of both Elmhurst YMCA and Elmhurst Symphony, mentored art students at (then) Elmhurst College and was a major supporter of the Elmhurst Art Museum. Ray was one of the most prominent art collectors in the Chicago area. In addition to art, he loved symphony and opera. Beyond his cultural passions, Ray was a 60 year Bears season ticket holder who never missed a game, whether at Soldier Field or on tv. He was also an avid Cubs fan. His own physical talents were best displayed on the dance floor.
Ray loved dearly and was dearly loved by his wife, Sally; his children, Pamela (David) Hunter, Justin (Julia) Allen, Julie Allen and Peter (Bonnie) Allen; his grandchildren, Leslie (Than) Hedman, Nicholas Allen, Erica (Jon) Cody, Margaret Dubey, Alexis Chia, Olivia Allen and Christina (Mark) Hammervold, and his great grandchildren, Axel and Nora Hammervold, in addition to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry.
A visitation will be held on December 13, 2023, from 4 to 8 PM at Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – THE AHLGRIM CHAPEL, 567 S. Spring Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126. A Celebration of Life will take place on December 14, 2023, 11:30 AM at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Rd., Elmhurst, IL 60126.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126; Elmhurst Symphony, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd., Elmhurst, IL 60126 or to the Salvation Army, https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/. For information, (630) 834-3515 or www.elmhurstfh.com.
