George Greer Rinder passed away on Wednesday, February 24th, 2016 as a result of complications following emergency abdominal surgery.  He had recently celebrated his 95th birthday in high spirits with his children and grandchildren.  George was born on February 3, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Dr. Carl O. and Edna Jane Greer Rinder.  He grew up in Hyde Park and South Shore, and attended the University of Chicago Laboratory and High Schools, where he was a wrestler known as “Pindar”.  Moving on to the University of Chicago, he earned an M.B.A. degree in 1942, graduating with honors.  He belonged to Phi Beta Kappa as well as the Delta Upsilon fraternity.  It was at the University that he met Shirley Latham, who would become his bride several years later on December 21, 1946, and his beloved life partner in 67 years of marriage.

After graduation, he took a job with General Electric in Schenectady, New York
in the finance and accounting department.  He entered the U.S. Army in October
of 1942 and rose to the rank of Captain through the WWII years.   Assigned to
the Medical Corps, in one of his first duty assignments, he was responsible for
inventing a novel bookkeeping system for the military to keep track of the
sources and uses of donated blood in the war effort.  Later, as a 23-year-old
officer, he was responsible for negotiating contracts for very large purchases
of pharmaceutical and other medical supplies, timed to support anticipated major
actions in the European theater.  Later in life, he told his children it was
“the most satisfying job I ever had”.

Following the war, he returned to Chicago and went to work for Marshall Field &
Company in the treasurer’s office.  Over a career spanning 40 years, he steadily
rose through positions as Controller and Chief Financial Officer.  Before
retiring in 1986, he was Vice Chairman of the Board with responsibility for
finance and accounting, legal, real estate, information systems and personnel –
essentially everything except merchandising.  He played an important role in the
development of Oak Brook Center and Water Tower Place, as well as the expansion
of Marshall Field’s through acquisitions into the Pacific Northwest, California
and Texas.

He remained very active in the Hinsdale and Chicago communities in his later
years.  He served for many years on the boards of McCormick Theological
Seminary, and United Charities of Chicago and its successor agency, Metropolitan
Family Services including as board chairman.  He was one of the oldest members
of the advisory Council of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
and was active raising funds for the University of Chicago, which awarded him
its highest honor for his service to his alma mater.  Closer to his Hinsdale
home, he belonged to Hinsdale Golf Club and the Hinsdale Social Study Circle.
He was also a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange.

He is survived by his older sister Jane (Mrs. John) Coulson; his sons Robert
(April) and Carl (Ellen Cutter); daughter Susan (Sitrick) and son-in-law Robert
Sitrick; granddaughters Lindsey Rinder, Alison (Rinder) Gustafson, Amanda
Rinder, Kate Rinder and Michelle (Sitrick) Forsythe; grandsons Dan Rinder and
Joshua Sitrick; three great grandchildren; and several grandsons-in-law, nieces
and nephews who he felt privileged to include in his wonderful family.  He was
preceded in death by his wife Shirley.  A memorial service is anticipated later
in the spring; arrangements are pending.  Interment will be private.  In lieu of
flowers, the family suggests that donations in George’s memory may be made to
King Bruwaert House, 6101 South County Line Road, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.
Arrangements entrusted to Hallowell & James Funeral Home at 708/352-6500