Obituary
Ira A. Eichner
A giant in industry, a giant in community and giant in family . Lived his life to the fullest. Will forever be remembered and cherished by his adoring family, the love of his life his childhood sweetheart Barbara Rita (Hara) his beautiful daughters Shelly Ettinger (Judd), Leslie Storch (David) and Fifi Levin (Ron), grandchildren, Julie Hockenberg (Ben), Samantha Jackson (Paul), Buddy Erwin (Ryan), Michael Storch (Rachel), Carly Bernstein (Scott), Andrew Ettinger, great grandchildren Max, William, Charlotte, Avery, Sam, Hazel. He is also survived by his beloved and life long friend brother in law Ben C Brostoff.
He was Chairman Emeritus and Founder of AAR CORP a global aviation service firm. He started his business from the back seat of his Studebacher, listed it on the NYSE, saw it grow to in excess of $2 bill in revenue with over 5000 employees. Over the course of the last six decades he positively impacted thousands of more lives. He instilled lasting values that continue to this day and will endure long into the future. Together with his life long love Barbara traveled the globe, developed deep personal friendship with everyone he knew, helped those in need. With his colorful personality and lovable sense of humor, he had a true gift for drawing people to him. Whether with a Wall Street titan or staff at his club he treated you with the same dignity and respect. Ira, lived his life to the fullest. Starting life in Chicago, he ventured out to Colorado, Lake Geneva, and ultimately Palm Beach. He was very proud to be a longstanding member of the Palm Beach Country Club where he made many friends, was an avid golfer, gin player and past President. He loved boating and particularly his voyages with family and friends. He developed deep relationships with the special people serving the local community. He enjoyed his friends but was most happy with his family. At the end Ira was surrounded by his loving family who shared the most heartfelt and touching stories. He had an innate ability to sense the needs of each family member and this was reflected in their loving tributes. Ira was a true patriarch and one of a kind in so many ways. He was a generous philanthropist supporting those causes most close to his heart. Jewish United Fund, Mayo Clinic and Art Institute of Chicago.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was the perfect combination of warm, generous, caring and wise. He will be long be remembered by the business community for being a pioneer, by the community for his generosity, and by his friends for his fun and lively ways. Ira was preceded in death by his Father Sam, Mother Rose, sister Trudy Brostoff, brother Norman. Funeral will be at 12:30PM on Wednesday, January 17th at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe, IL. Interment Westlawn. Contributions should be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or Jewish United Fund. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals. www.chicagojewishfunerals.com