53. John Daley 55. Patricia Hemingway Hall 54 Morton Schapiro Age: 59 Occupation: President, Northwestern University Next Back This economist used numbers to argue for demolishing Prentice Women’s Hospital, claiming a biomedical research facility would bring in $390 million a year in jobs, grants, and more. At presstime, Rahm was on his side, but the … Read more
41. Mellody Hobson 43. Martha Lavey 42 Patrick Ryan Age: 75 Occupation: CEO, Ryan Specialty Group Next Back This insurance titan, who built Aon into a global powerhouse and now runs his own specialty insurance firm, is a loyalist whose generosity continues to shape two sources of fierce civic pride: the Bears (he’s a 20 … Read more
70. Pat Quinn 72. Bill Daley 71 Jim Franczek Jr. Age: 66 Occupation: Attorney, Franczek Radelet Next Back Once you’ve been pegged as Rahm’s guy on labor relations, every other agency wants to hire you. Even Karen Lewis (No. 24) says nice things about him.
11. Rocky Wirtz 13. Dick Durbin 12 Lester Crown Age: 87 Occupation: Chairman, Henry Crown and Co. Next Back He may be spending his autumn years in the company of close friends and relatives, but when your family is worth an estimated $4 billion and your social circle is made up of philanthropic leaders from … Read more
31. David Spielfogel 33. Jeanne Gang 32 Juan Rangel Age: 55 Occupation: CEO, United Neighborhood Organization Next Back He runs a charter school juggernaut (11 schools and counting) funded largely through state tax subsidies. And he’s considered the man you must see to win the backing of the city’s sizable Latino population (29 percent), even … Read more
34. Greg Wasson 36. David Vitale 35 Brad Keywell Age: 43 Occupation: Investor and tech entrepreneur Next Back Not one of those tech investors who are content to pull strings away from the limelight, this longtime business partner of Eric Lefkofsky (No. 19) was all over the stage at the second annual Chicago Ideas Week … Read more
47. Neil Bluhm 49. Fred Eychaner 48 Ann Lurie Age: 67 Occupation: Philanthropist Next Back When the towering new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago opened its doors in June, this hands-on philanthropist stepped one foot closer to her goal: the creation of a powerhouse medical campus in Streeterville that would make … Read more
49. Fred Eychaner 51. Terry Mazany 50 Tracy Letts Age: 47 Occupation: Actor and playwright Next Back Chicago’s theatre community will almost certainly get a well-deserved boost if this playwright and actor—seen as a frontrunner for the Tony in June—gets the nod for his biting portrayal of George in Steppenwolf’s Broadway transfer of Who’s Afraid … Read more
36. David Vitale 38. Theaster Gates 37 Cardinal Francis George Age: 76 Occupation: Archbishop of Chicago Next Back His cancer recurrence and his letter of resignation, both in 2012, have some wondering if his departure is imminent. But George (who completed chemotherapy in January) remains archbishop of the country’s third-largest diocese and a kindred spirit … Read more
8. Toni Preckwinkle 10. David Axelrod 9 Irene Rosenfeld Age: 59 Occupation: Chairman and CEO, Mondelez Next Back She’s steering Kraft spinoff Mondelez (which owns such giant food brands as Nabisco and Cadbury and is valued at some $49 billion) to strong growth in overseas markets. And Fortune calls her one of the five most … Read more
