Ann Lurie Obituary, Chicago’s Most Prolific Philanthropists Has Has Passed Away: Chicago philanthropist Ann Lurie passed away on Monday at the age of 79 due to complications from a recent illness, as confirmed by a family spokesperson. Renowned not only in Chicago but globally for her contributions to health care, Lurie’s philanthropic efforts have left an enduring impact. Ann Lurie began her career with a nursing degree from the University of Florida.
In 1973, she moved to Chicago, where she worked as a pediatric intensive care nurse at the then-Children’s Memorial Hospital. It was in Chicago that she met her late husband, Robert H. Lurie, with whom she had six children. Robert, a successful commercial real estate executive, died in 1990, leaving Ann to raise their children and manage their considerable fortune. Her connection with Northwestern University began during Robert’s cancer treatment.
Over the years, Lurie donated more than $60 million to Northwestern, establishing herself as one of Chicago’s most prolific philanthropists. One of her most significant contributions was the $100 million donation to help start the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. In a statement, Lurie Children’s expressed their gratitude: “We will forever be grateful to Ann for creating a legacy that allows us to provide the highest quality, most compassionate care for patients and families across Chicagoland and beyond.
Ann’s life inspires us all to embrace the power of her mantra to ‘do a good deed daily.’” Lurie also made substantial contributions to Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, establishing two professorships in breast cancer research and oncology. In 2021, Dr. Eric G. Neilson, vice president for Medical Affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean at Feinberg, honored her generosity by establishing the Ann Lurie Professorship in Oncology.
One of Lurie’s earliest and most significant philanthropic efforts was Gilda’s Club Chicago, founded to support children and families of those with cancer. She started the club in River North 26 years ago, shortly after her husband’s death. Both Robert Lurie and the Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner, an alumna of the University of Michigan, died of cancer. Gilda’s Club CEO Laura Jane Hyde remarked, “She started it. Gilda’s Club Chicago, without her, we wouldn’t be here.”
In a 2018 promotional video for Gilda’s Club, Lurie said, “This was the birth of something I knew would go on to be important.” Lurie’s philanthropic reach extended to other causes as well. She opened the Spay and Neuter clinic for PAWS Chicago and supported the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Food Depository stated, “Ann was also eager to roll up her sleeves and volunteer, advocate, and do whatever necessary to ensure more Chicagoans had access to food and resources.”
Jane Hyde of Gilda’s Club noted, “She was very private about the work she did and was very focused on the area she wanted to support and just left an amazing legacy.” Ann Lurie is survived by her husband of 10 years, Mark Muheim, her six children, and numerous grandchildren. Her legacy of compassion, generosity, and dedication to improving the lives of others will continue to inspire future generations. May she rest in peace.
