Albert Meers Obituary

Meers, Albert Huckins Albert Huckins Meers, a real estate developer and partner in Lake Forest-based Broadacre Management Company, died suddenly in Florida on March 12th of an apparent heart attack. He was 63 and lived in Lake Forest, Illinois with his wife Kristin and step-daughters Sarah and Katy. He will be remembered for his love of life and adventure, devotion to family, loyalty to those around him, and keen business skills. Bert, as he was known to all, grew up in Lake Forest, the son of Henry W. "Brick" Meers, the former vice-chairman of White Weld & Co., a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch, and long-time chairman of Chicago's WTTW public television, and his wife Evelyn. After finishing his studies at Lake Forest Country Day School, Bert graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, where he played three varsity sports, captained the hockey team in his senior year and was named best athlete in the class at his graduation. At Princeton, Bert played varsity hockey for three years and majored in history. He graduated in 1970. He returned to Chicago and went to work for the First National Bank of Chicago (now JP Morgan Chase) and was quickly accepted into the bank's First Scholar program, which allowed him to earn his Masters in Business at the University of Chicago at night. After First Chicago, Bert worked in new product development at Baxter Healthcare, then migrated to the world of real estate. He was recruited to La Salle Partners by Bill Sanders, the founder of the Chicago real-estate developer and property manager. Among the highlights of his time there was a highly creative transaction for the Chicago Tribune that helped fix a previously intractable real estate problem and his role in starting Urban Site Ventures at LaSalle, which acquired downtown parking lots in urban centers all over the country and held them for development. In 1990 he joined Broadacre Management as a partner with his brother Robert. At Broadacre, he oversaw the firm's Market Square retail and office project in Lake Forest and, with his brother, led Broadacre into development ventures in Boston and Washington state, among others. "Bert was an astute observer of human behavior," says Robert Meers. "That made him an extremely good negotiator." Athletics continued to be important to Bert, and he could predictably be found helicopter skiing in Canada, on the golf course, or cheering on, whenever possible, his beloved Chicago Blackhawks. His quick wit and lightening fast repartee enlivened conversation, but his sense of fair-mindedness illuminated his dealings with office colleagues. Friends and family also mattered a great deal. He is survived by his wife Kristin, step-daughters Sarah and Katy, two brothers Robert and Henry, and 15 nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albert H. Meers Scholarship Fund c/o Lawrence Hall Youth Services, 4833 N. Francisco, Chicago, IL 60625 where Bert served as a trustee for many years. Funeral Services will be held at 10am on Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster, Lake Forest, IL 60045. Burial will follow immediately at Lake Forest Cemetery. Info: Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest. 847/234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com.