Funeral Details

Dr. Joel D. Goldhar, born on June 25, 1942, passed away on February 19, 2025 in Winnetka, Illinois. He was a distinguished academic, dedicated family man, and a mentor to many. Joel earned a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he also participated in ROTC. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army, traveling the world in service to his country and rising to the rank of Captain. He furthered his education by earning an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1965 and a Ph.D. from George Washington University. In 1982, Joel moved from Washington, D.C., where he had worked for the Manufacturing Studies Board and the National Academy of Sciences, to Chicago to become Dean of the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), a position he held from 1983 to 1988. He continued to serve as a professor of operations and technology management at IIT, making significant contributions to the fields of business policy, operations, and technology management. His research focused on computer-integrated manufacturing and the impacts of technology on business strategy. The students he trained have gone on to hold important positions in government, industry, finance, and academia, where his materials and methods continue to shape the next generation. Joel is survived by his loving wife, Leslie, to whom he was married for 42 years. Together, they shared a deep love of travel, art, and family. He also leaves behind two sons, Sam and Philip, who cherished his love and wisdom, and four grandchildren, Leo, Madeleine, Sydney, and Hannah whom he cherished. His legacy of dedication to education and family will be remembered by all who knew him. A service celebrating his life will be held on February 21, 2025, at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077, at 2:00 PM, followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. Shiva will follow the burial at Chicago Jewish Funerals. Livestream of the funeral service is available at chicagojewishfunerals.com. Donations in his memory may be made to the Rabbi Paul F. Cohen Discretionary Fund via templejeremiah.org or to the Cosmos Club of Washington, DC via www.cosmosclubfoundation.org/.