Eugene Monroe

Eugene William “Gene” Monroe, 80, of Park Ridge, passed away on April 8, 2017. He was born and raised in Hartford, WI, graduating from Hartford High School in 1955. Gene received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marquette University in 1959 and a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from Loyola University in 1961. He began his career in social services at the Cook County Department of Public Aid, then transitioned to human resources positions at Bell & Howell and Exchange National Bank, where he met the love of his life, Kathleen (Kathy) Anne Campbell. Kathy and Gene married in 1966, and they were married for 50 loving and dedicated years. Together they lived in Evanston, Wilmette and Park Ridge, IL, as well as in Kailua, Hawaii. They welcomed their only child, Caroline, in 1971. Starting with Exchange National Bank, Gene spent the majority of his career in the banking industry. An opportunity to become the Bank of Hawaii’s first Sales and Marketing Officer for Bancorp Leasing took Gene, Kathy and Caroline to Kailua, Hawaii, where they lived from 1973 to 1976. After returning to Chicago, Gene worked for M&I First National Leasing Corporation, where he worked as a Vice President for 22 years before retiring in 1998. In his post-retirement, a friend and colleague asked him to join Associated Leasing, where he worked for another nine years. Gene ultimately retired in 2008 and proudly relished the job title of Papa to his granddaughter Ava Kathleen, who was born in 2005. His second grandchild Colin was born in 2011, and Gene was thrilled by the middle name given to Colin, which was Monroe.Family and friends will remember Gene for his sweet and gentle personality, his humor and his uncanny ability to draw from his knowledge the answer to just about anything. He was selflessly generous, often bringing family and friends special treasures he would find for them at house sales. Gene loved his family, their many dogs (particularly Beau Bella Maile, who shared his birthday), his many treasured friends, Hawaii, gardening, house sales and spending time in Scottsdale and Galena. Gene also enjoyed the opportunity to be seen on the big screen as an extra in the movies “Hoffa” and “The Fugitive”, where he was able to meet Tommy Lee Jones.Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Maurice and Marjorie Monroe, his sister Ellen Winterhalter, his brother-in-law Jack Winterhalter and his brother Michael Monroe. His is survived by his devoted wife Kathy, daughter Caroline Paloyan, son-in-law James Paloyan, grandchildren Ava and Colin Paloyan, sisters Mary (Randolph) Kreul, Barbara (Jerome) Zielinski and Jane Schroeder, sister-in-law Glenasue Monroe and many nieces, nephews and cousins.Visitation will be held Monday, April 17 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL. Funeral services begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18 at the funeral home, and will then proceed to St. Juliana Church, 7200 N. Osceola Ave., Chicago, IL for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Private service to follow at All Saints Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated. www.stjude.org