Funeral Details

Gil Elenbogen, age 100 years, 361 days

Beloved husband of Irene Elenbogen nee Kaplan Loving father of Beryl Elenbogen (partner Mark Weidling) and Dina (Steven Siegel) Elenbogen. Proud grandfather (Saba) of Sarina Elenbogen-Siegel and Ilan Elenbogen-Siegel. Dear brother of the late Morton (the late Elaine) Elenbogen, the late Bernard (the late Rose) Elenbogen and the late Ellen (the late Joe) Cooper. Cherished uncle to many.

Gilbert David Elenbogen was born in 1924, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, to Saul and Ida Elenbogen (nee Rosin). At 18, he enlisted in the army where he became a Sergeant in the US Army Air Forces and worked as a flight engineer on B-24 bombers.

He received a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science from Roosevelt University in 1950 and 1953, and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1974.

In 1953 he met and married Irene. Their 45-year union lasted until her death in 1998.

Gil’s early career included working as Senior chemist at Baxter Laboratories, Technical director at Vitamins Inc., Technical director of Fullerton Environmental System and finally research chemist at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District from 1969-1990. After his retirement from the district, he became a certified toxicologist and worked as a consultant and expert witness on legal cases. He held patents in many fields.

He was a longtime and passionate member of the Labor Zionist Alliance and diligently studied to become an adult Bar Mitzvah at age 75.

He was passionate about classical music and attended the Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony Orchestra for many years until late into his nineties. He loved literature, especially Russian novels and until recently was an enthusiastic member of several book groups. He was also an avid cyclist and talented athlete. He completed several 100-mile Century bike rides in his 70’s and every year on his birthday biked his age in miles changing to kilometers in his nineties. He always had a minute to listen to anyone who needed an ear and cherished his family and the devoted friendships he made throughout his life.

We are grateful to his caregivers, Roger, Esther, Rholyn and Nena who gave him great comfort the last few years of his life.

Service Thursday 12 Noon at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment Shalom. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Ave., Glencoe, IL 60022, www.amshalom.com or your favorite charity. To attend the funeral livestream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com