The following obituary is from Wenban Funeral Home:
William J. Halligan, age 90, whose very full and successful life included many loves like the city and people of Lake Forest, traveling around the world, philanthropy, real estate development, the Bears and Cubs, and most of all his family, died peacefully on October 19th, 2014.
Born in Sommerville, Massachusetts in 1924, Bill grew up in the Chicago area, where he excelled in school academics and athletics – most notably swimming. After high school he proudly served his country during WWII as a radio operator for the Pacific Fleet, as well as a rescue swimmer for downed pilots. Although he was wounded in battle (awarded the Purple Heart) and lost close friends to enemy fire, some of his fondest memories were of his years as a “tin can sailor.”
After the war, and in between many amorous adventures, Bill was granted the exceptional honor of admission to West Point Military Academy, though he eventually transferred to – and graduated from – his beloved University of Notre Dame.
Shortly after graduation, Bill fell madly in love and married Marydith Cox, the talented and charming beauty who became the mother of their six children. His professional life began at the Hallicrafters Company, a prominent electronics firm founded by his father. Rising through the ranks to become V.P. of Sales, Bill’s growing family and ambitions led him to a fateful decision that brought him to the suburb of Lake Forest in 1957. Through a series of daring maneuvers he acquired over 200 acres of prime undeveloped real estate, and was instrumental in the creation of numerous subdivisions and commercial properties in and around Lake Forest.
He continued to purchase more properties for further development, but eventually – and quietly – donated much of his land to Lake Forest Hospital and other local organizations. Year after year, Bill also made sizable and anonymous donations to various Lake Forest schools, as well as, Northwestern University and Notre Dame. In addition to his institutional generosity, he sought and helped countless individuals in need, never asking anything in return.
Bill was first and foremost a man of honor, who embodied the mantra that he drummed into each of his young children: “Don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal.” But he was also a fun-loving guy with a playful sense of humor and a tireless spirit of adventure. For example, when he first moved to Lake Forest he was a city boy from Chicago, yet he embraced the open space around his new home and filled it with sheep, goats, ducks, and the horses that he loved to ride (despite having no prior experience with animals or ranching).
Although his first love, “Coxie,” passed away after 45 years of a very happy marriage, Bill found love again 12 years ago and married his dear friend and surviving wife, Joanne. He is also survived by his six children: Bill, Tim, Terry, Kitty, Mady and John, as well as ten grandchildren, one great grandchild and one step grandchild, who know him affectionately as Hap. He will also be remembered by his stepchildren: Colleen, Gregory and John. All of us will miss his wit and warmth, and we’ll never forget how many lives he enriched in his 90 years. He was truly a very special man. WE LOVE YOU!
Services will be private for the family. Info – Wenban Funeral Home, www.wenbanfh.com or 847-234-0022.
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