Richard V. Houpt

RICHARD V. HOUPT (1926-2008) Richard V. Houpt, Sr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 30, 2008, in West Palm Beach, FL, beside his cherished wife, Geri, shortly after celebrating his 82nd birthday. Dick was born to William and Elsie (Claypool) Houpt and grew up with his beloved brother, Bill, in Danville, IL. He attended the University of Chicago and, after serving in the US Navy, graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law. He married Freda Beyer, also of Danville, and moved to Chicago to begin his family and successful law career. Together they raised four children, Julie, Jeff, Rick and Peter, in Wilmette, IL. Dick was admitted to the bar in 1952, and began his legal career as an Assistant States Attorney representing Cook County in municipal, land use and zoning matters. He entered private practice and became a partner with Ancel, Stonesifer, Houpt & Riley. In 1963, Dick joined Peer Pedersen in founding the respected Chicago law firm of Pedersen & Houpt, where his local government, zoning and land use practice flourished. He was appointed Village Attorney for several suburban municipalities, including Deerfield, Mt. Prospect and Glendale Heights, and served as special counsel to other local governments when specific issues arose which called for his expertise. Dick was a frequent contributor to Illinois Continuing Legal Education publications, having written several chapters for legal treatises, and was a regular panelist at legal seminars and symposia. In recognition of his experience and expertise, he was elected to membership in Lambda Alpha, an honorary land use and economics study group, and was an Illinois Bar Foundation Fellow. In the early 1980s, Dick was recruited by one of his firms major clients to leave Pedersen & Houpt and become in-house General Counsel to Waste Management of North America, a New York Stock Exchange Company. He later assumed duties as Vice President for Governmental Affairs. Dick was a loyal alumnus of the University of Illinois College of Law, serving in various volunteer capacities and, in 1998, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dick was also a champion of his adopted hometown of Chicago, providing support and service to local organizations, including nine years as a member of the board of directors of the Historic Pullman Foundation, He was a devoted, and though oft-disappointed, ever-loyal fan of the Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks and the Fighting Illini. In the late 1990s, Dick retired and moved to Florida, where he met and married the love of his life, Geri Blakely. Not one to leave his capabilities underutilized, he served for several years on both board of directors of his community, Ironhorse, and lent his soothing voice to the recording of books on tape for the blind. Dick was a warm, gentle, kind and loving soul, and it is for these qualities that he will be most remembered and dearly missed. Dick is survived by his wife, Geri, his children, Julie (John), Jeff (Tresi), Rick (Patty) and Peter (Sharon), his grandchildren, Nick and Chris Kralovec (Granville OH), Sam and Frank Houpt (Glenwood Springs CO), Bill, Laura, Krissy and Tommy Houpt (Sudbury MA), and Dylan Houpt (Chapel Hill NC), and his nieces and nephews, Tim, Kathy, Bill, Andy, Mary, Jim, Matt, John and Ted Houpt. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Hospice of Palm Beach County or the University of Illinois College of Law. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 29, at 2pm at Sunset Funeral Home in Danville, followed by an internment at Gundy Cemetery in Bismark, IL. A reception will be held at 4pm at the Danville Country Club, E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com