Obituary
J. Jordan Nerenberg, beloved husband, father, grandfather, businessman, philanthropist, traveler, and consummate mensch, died peacefully at home in Tucson. He was 91.
Born in Chicago in 1934, Jordan grew up on the city’s North Side and graduated with honors from Northwestern University in 1956 with a degree in Business Administration. After service in the military reserves and an MBA from Columbia Business School, he joined Royal Continental Box Company, the family business founded in 1922 by his father Sam Nerenberg. A gifted salesman and visionary leader, Jordan led the growth and transformation of the Royal Group into a major regional corrugated packaging enterprise with six facilities in four states. He was a respected industry leader, serving as Chairman of the Independent Executive Corrugator Committee of the Fibre Box Association. Yet Jordan always measured success not by profits, but by people: knowing employees by name, celebrating their families, and maintaining deep, personal relationships with his customers.
Jordan’s generosity and civic engagement shaped every chapter of his life. He served as Vice President of Temple Emanuel and on the boards of the Board of Jewish Education, Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, and Next Theatre Company. He and his wife Jean were early supporters of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. A lifelong lover of theater, opera, art, travel, and learning, Jordan brought warmth, humor and curiosity everywhere he went. Family adventures took him around the globe, while at home he delighted children and grandchildren alike with costumes, stories, hats, games, original songs and his unforgettable alter ego, “Super Moses.”
Above all, Jordan cherished family. He was the beloved husband of Jean Nerenberg for 61 years; loving father of Julie Nerenberg (Andrew Block) and Joanne Nerenberg (Aaron Naparstek); treasured Gumpa of Lily and Henry Block and Arlo and Saul Naparstek; devoted uncle, colleague, and friend to many. Jordan was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Helen Nerenberg, his brother Jerome Nerenberg, and his dear cousin Leo Nerenberg. He will be remembered for his kindness, playfulness, humor, generosity, deep humanity, and remarkable ability to make every person feel valued.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jordan’s memory may be made to the Nerenberg Campership Fund: juf.org/NerenbergCampershipFund; Chicago Humanities Festival: www.chicagohumanities.org; or the Lincoln Park Zoo: www.lpzoo.org; Services will be private at the request of the family. A Celebration of Life for extended family and friends will be held at a later date this summer. For information, including shiva and to leave condolences: The Goldman Funeral Group, www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com (847) 478-1600.
Arrangements by Goldman Funeral Group.
www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com