Michael Weinberg Obituary

Weinberg, Jr., Michael

Michael Weinberg, Jr., 98, Chicago native and long-time resident of Highland Park, Illinois, peacefully passed away at his Palm Desert, California residence on July 10, 2023. He had an exceptional career, including serving two terms as Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the 1970s, during which time he was instrumental in the creation of the International Monetary Market; owning, publishing and editing the Hyde Park Herald newspaper in the 1950s; holding the position of Executive Director of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society in the 1960s, in which capacity he helped initiate the first Zoo Ball, and plan and build the Farm in the Zoo; serving as Vice-President of Weinberg Bros. & Co. commodity futures brokerage firm for several decades starting in the 1970s, and President of American Futures Corporation in the 1980s and early 1990s; trading as a floor broker on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for 37 years; and the first floor broker representative to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. A proud veteran of WW II, as a sergeant in Patton's Third Army, he earned a Bronze Star for his actions in combat, and participated in the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp. He was a proud alumni of both the University of Chicago Laboratory School and the University of Chicago, and was acknowledged by the University as its longest continuing donor, having made contributions to it for 83 consecutive years. He was a founding member of Congregation Solel in Highland Park (now Congregation Makom Solel Lakeside), and his faith was important to him. Cherished son of the late Michael and Leila Weinberg; beloved husband of the late Joan Rusnak Weinberg for 68 wonderful years; devoted brother to the late William Weinberg and the late Lois Kanter; loving father of Michael Alan Weinberg, Wendy Weinberg and Jill (Avrum) Miller; adored grandfather of Bradley (Kerri Czopek) Miller, Lindsey (Scott) Williams, Michael Adam (Liz Myhre) Weinberg and Joshua (Nika Arzoumanian) Weinberg; and great-grandfather of Jonah Williams; devoted uncle and friend to many. Much gratitude to his excellent caretakers Lanie Bulanon and Winnie Parks. Interment private. No visitation. A memorial celebration of life will be held at a later date. Contributions in Michael's memory may be made to the University of Chicago, give.uchicago.edu or Congregation Makom Solel Lakeside, www.mymakom.org.

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