It is with deep sadness that I let you know of the passing of Rolf Weil, president emeritus of Roosevelt University.
Roosevelt’s third and longest-serving president, Weil died Sunday. His funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette. All members of the Roosevelt community, including employees, are invited to attend.
Born in Germany in 1921, Weil escaped the Nazi regime with his family, immigrating to Chicago in 1936. While he knew no English when he came to America, Weil successfully pursued his education, graduating from Hyde Park High School in Chicago, and then attending the University of Chicago where he received bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in economics. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1944.
An early faculty member, Weil joined Roosevelt in 1946, shortly after the University was founded. Serving Roosevelt for 42 years, Weil was a professor of finance and economics, the dean of the College of Business, which he helped to shape, and was Roosevelt’s president from 1964-88.
A strong fundraiser and honorary member of the Board of Trustees, Weil always put the University’s best interest first, working tirelessly, frequently with the assistance and support of his wife, Leni, to ensure the University, as a modern-day institution of higher learning, would be on track for enrollment growth and financial stability, and a place for upward mobility of its students.
Among many accomplishments, Weil oversaw planning and construction of Roosevelt’s Herman Crown Center, which has since been replaced by the Wabash Building; he built the Heller College of Business, including its MBA program, virtually from the ground up; he established an early presence for Roosevelt in the Northwest suburbs with an Albert A. Robin Campus in Arlington Heights; he published on economics and education, and is the author of the book Through These Portals, which is a history of his career at Roosevelt.
The founder and president emeritus of the Self Help Home from 1976-2005, Weil loved teaching, education, travel, and most of all, his family. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Leni Metzger Weil, a daughter, a son and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago or the Self Help Home, 908 W. Argyle Street, Chicago.
Please note that we are planning a memorial service for Weil at the University. Further details will be available soon.
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