Bruce L. Newman, 74, a former executive director of The Chicago Community Trust who helped dedicate $30 million to children and youth services, died of mesothelioma Thursday, Feb. 10, at his home in New Mexico, his son said.
Mr. Newman became executive director of the Chicago Community Trust in 1973 and led the foundation until retiring in 1999. He was the third executive director of the trust, one of the largest community foundations in the United States.
The trust makes grants annually in health, social services, arts, humanities, education and civic affairs.
Mr. Newman’s son Courtney said his father spent nearly his entire career at the trust because he felt a deep sense of fulfillment in the work.
“Just the day-to-day job of deciding which groups would get grants and how that money would make a difference — that made it all worthwhile for him,” his son said.
Under Mr. Newman’s leadership, the trust’s assets grew from $71 million to more than $1 billion.
Starting in 1991, Mr. Newman directed $30 million from the trust to the Children, Youth & Families Initiative, a 10-year project focused on improving children’s services by creating new programs and advocating policy change.
As part of the initiative, the trust awarded funds to several groups and agencies — including the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago and United Charities — for a program to divert young offenders from juvenile detention.
“Children’s issues were truly a hallmark of the Newman era at the trust,” said Barbara Denemark Long, the trust historian.
From this same commitment to youth services arose Voices for Illinois Children, the first statewide, private citizen-based group advocating for children.
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His leadership also created key service groups that still flourish such as the Illinois Facilities Fund, a unique revolving loan fund addressing the capital needs of nonprofits; Operation ABLE; the Executive Service Corps of Chicago; and Leadership Greater Chicago.
Mr. Newman also worked to help foster community dialogue. During his tenure, the trust created Chicago Matters, a multimedia public-affairs series in conjunction with WTTW-Ch. 11, the Chicago Public Library, WBEZ Public Radio and The Chicago Reporter.
That series — the first of its kind in the nation — continues to explore critical social issues like housing, access to education and sustainable development.
“Through his creative vision, energy and enthusiasm for doing what is right, Bruce has guided the trust into leadership roles on some of the most pressing issues of our time, including race relations, poverty, violence, education and aging,” said James J. Glasser, chairman of the trust’s executive committee at the time of Mr. Newman’s retirement.
Mr. Newman was born in 1937 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and received his undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and his law degree from Case Western Reserve University.
After working in private law practice, he joined The Cleveland Foundation in 1965 as assistant director and secretary. Mr. Newman served as coordinator of policy research and director of the Department of Urban Affairs for the state of Ohio before joining The Chicago Community Trust.
After retiring, Mr. Newman relocated to Tesuque, N.M., with his wife, Gwill Newman, former president of the Brain Research Foundation.
His wife died last year.
He is also survived by his son Lincoln; a stepdaughter, Gwill; and three grandchildren.
There were no services.