James A. Bovaird III

From the Chicago Tribune obituary by Barbara Sherlock Tribune Staff reporter:

'When James A. Bovarid III moved to Winnetka in the 1960s with his youg family, he immediately embraced the community.  Through the years he was a champion of the privately supported Winnetka Community House and its diverse educational, cultural, social and recreational programs.

Mr. Bovaird was a founder of the North Shore facility's annual fund drive in the early 1970s and later led a $12 million capital

campaign to modernize its 70-year old building and expand it.

In October, the facility dedicated its Garden under the Arches to Mr. Bovaird who was on its board from 1998 to 2004, including a term as chairman.

"Jim came back a second time because the Community House was ending the last century and it wanted to figure out what it should be doing differently and how to configure for a new century and new generation", said his friend for 56 years who also championed the facility.

"Jim helped to create a wonderful vision for the three principal areas that they should be focusing on--child enrichment, fitness and health, and theater and general arts--with an ambitious $12 million expansion and construction.  So far they have about $10 million, and Jim was responsible for that."

Mr. Bovaird, 75, a retired 40-year financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and a master of baseball trivia, battled diabetes for more than 40 years and died of complications from the disease December 14 in his Winnetka home.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mr . Bovaird was an alumnus of William Penn Charter School and Dartmouth College, where we was graduated with a major in history.  After college he enlisted in the Army, serving three years during the Korean War before being discharged as a second lieutenant.

He entered a sales training program with Armstrong Cork in Philadelphia, working in the Chicago office before going to the New York office.  He then changed careers and joined Merrill Lynch, transferring to the Chaicago office in 1962, where he remained until his retirement in 1998.

"If you want to know my opinion of his place in this world, he without a doubt showed me the right way to navigate the business in an ethical and moral fashion, just through his actions," said Karen Rabin, who began working as his assistant 20 years ago before being promoted to financial advisor.  "The loyalty from his clients proved his actions were worthy.  He was honest and ethical'.

A high school and college baseball pitcher, Mr. Bovaird was a boys and girls softball coach in Winnetka and a steadfast fan of the Philadelphia Phillies.  His passion for and knowledge of the game, particularly of the 1930s through 1960s, oftten provoked

middle-of-the-night telephone calls from friends hoping to win a trivia wager, his wife said.

Mr. Bovaird was known for his dedication to his family and to his many friends.  "He was a very loyal, uncomplicated guy who was very successful in his business and retained his friendships" his wife Elaine said.  "He was devoted to his children and grandchildren, and very proud of his role in their lives."

A daughter, Susan Tobin Bovaird predeceased him in 1965.