Raymond Hartstein, the founding chairman of Oakton Community College, spearheaded the development of the Skokie campus and was on hand with his family in 1995 when it was named the Raymond Hartstein Campus in his honor.

 

"I remember standing next to my dad at the ribbon-cutting and feeling so proud because I knew how hard he'd worked to get that campus built," said his son Elliott. "It wasn't that he donated a lot of money. What he gave was his blood, sweat and tears.

 

"Things aren't usually named after people until long after they're gone. I'm just glad he lived to see how much he was appreciated for all he had done."

 

Mr. Hartstein, 96, of Skokie, a former longtime executive with Brunswick Corp. and General Motors, died of natural causes Sunday, Sept. 7, at Brookdale Plaza, a senior-living facility in Vernon Hills. He served as a board member for 35 years at Oakton as well.

 

"He was the kind of leader always quick to acknowledge and praise the contributions of anyone affiliated with Oakton Community College and would send out countless 'thank you' notes thanking those that gave of their time, resources and energies," said Oakton President Margaret B. Lee, who first met Hartstein 30 years ago, when she began working at the college. "But the fact is, Ray is why we're here at all today. He was a teacher, mentor and an advocate. He was an agent for change when we needed it most."

 

The college first opened its doors in fall 1970 to 832 students. It consisted of four factory buildings at Nagle Avenue and Oakton Street in Morton Grove. It now has its main campus in Des Plaines and another in Skokie, which both opened in 1980.

 

"Ray was never a remote board member, but rather someone involved at every level," Lee said. "He was a thinker and doer. His dream was to make a quality public education.