The EastWest Institute would like to acknowledge the passing of Marshall Bennett, noted industrial real estate developer and philanthropist.

Bennett passed away from natural causes on October 13 at the age of 97. 

“We are all deeply sorry to hear of the news of Mr. Bennett’s passing,” commented Ambassador Cameron Munter, CEO and President of the EastWest Institute. “For many years, Marshall was an avid supporter of the institute and active participant in its programmatic work around the globe. He was a dedicated friend of the institute and will be sincerely missed.”

As co-founder and partner of Bennett and Kahnweiler, Bennett numbered among the most productive corporate and industrial real estate developers of the postwar period.  In 1954, the firm completed the first comprehensive planned industrial park, the O'Hare Industrial Park, and the Centex Industrial Park.

Bennett was also considered to be one of the most influential people in building relationships that promote large real estate transactions in the U.S. Bennett was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the Catholic Theological Union and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Roosevelt University, as well as the 1979 Man of the Year by the National Association of Industrial/Office Parks, Urban Land Institute Lifetime Achievement Award and the Hall of Fame Award from the Chicago Board of Realtors.

He served on the Board of Governors of the University of Chicago Hospitals, Board of Directors of Evanston Hospital, Trustee of Chicago Symphony Orchestral and Treasurer and Trustee of the Albert Einstein Peace Prize Foundation, as well as numerous other organizations. 

Bennett was an active member of the EastWest Institute’s board of directors from 2004-2007.

A native of Chicago, Bennett graduated from the University of Chicago and served in the Navy during WWII. He is survived by his wife, Arlene, and daughters, Bija Bennett and Alice Bennett Groh.