Eloise Martin Obituary

Martin, Eloise Wright died in her home in Kenilworth, IL on the 13th of October, 2008, at 93 years of age. She was the widow of Harold Thomas Martin and lived in the Chicago area for most of her life. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Mary Eleanor Wright Buscheck, and is survived by her two daughters, Melinda Martin Sullivan and her husband, Dr. Paul R.C. Sullivan, of West Hartford, CT and Joyce Martin Hampton and her husband, Robert Edward Hampton, of Blythewood, SC. She also leaves four grandchildren: Stephanie Lee Smart of Concord, MA, Alison Vance Scherer of Avon, Ct, Andrew Martin Brown of London, England, and Heather Amanda Vance of New York, NY. She also leaves behind two great grand children, Samuel and Haley Scherer of Avon, CT. Eloise Martin was born October 28, 1914, the daughter of Lee and Lola Pearl (Roberts) Wright in Jackson County, IL. She graduated from Southern Illinois University and taught Latin, English and Physical Education in southern Illinois before marrying Mr. Martin and moving to Evanston, Illinois in 1940. Mrs. Martin has long been associated with various philanthropic organizations in the Chicago region. Unknown to many, she was a Girl Scout Leader and the Chair of the Arden Shore Home for Boys (an orphanage). She was a Life Trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago and served as the president of its Women's Board and The Antiquarian Society. She was also Chairwoman of the Decorative Arts Committee for twenty years. She endowed The Art Institute's positions of Museum Director and Director of European Decorative Arts. In addition to her passion for visual arts, Mrs. Martin also had a great love for the performing arts and was a trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Ravinia Music Festival. For over twenty years she endowed the position of its musical director. In 1995 the newly renovated Murray Theater at Ravinia was renamed the Martin Theater in her honor. At Northwestern University she was responsible for endowing the Harold T. Martin Chair of Marketing at the Kellogg Business School and the Eloise W. Martin Reading Room in the Deering Library. Long a member of the Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago she served on its board and on many of its committees. Eclectic in her philanthropy Mrs. Martin also gave to The Mayo Clinic, the Dominican University (where she endowed the Candida Lund Political Science Chair), and the Chicago Botanical Gardens. In her later years Eloise often asked, "What would the world be like without art, music and flowers?" She has left a legacy in these areas, and will be remembered by all who associated with her. All benefited from her keen mind, kindness, elegance and grace. She freely shared and bestowed these gifts, never wanting the spotlight for herself. At her request there will be no funeral or memorial service. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make a contribution to the charity of their choice. Arrangements by: Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 847-251-8200.