Ellis Goodman

Ellis M. Goodman worked with rock stars, produced movies, and wrote books. In 1996, he was made Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. But first, he was an accountant.

Born in London, Goodman studied at Brighton College Sussex, and ultimately settled in Glencoe. He died at 87, on May 1.

“Ellis was a true Renaissance man who loved business, the arts, and the Jewish people,” recalled JUF President Lonnie Nasatir. “I had the pleasure of knowing him over 15 years, and always left our conversations more educated and inspired. We lost a gem of a man, whom I will miss greatly.” 

A Silver Circle member of JUF, Goodman belonged to the Standard Club and North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park. 

As a London accountant in the 1960s, Goodman’s clients included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie. In the 1970s, he managed a record label, which distributed Billy Ocean and Donna Summer in the U.K.

He began producing and distributing movies and documentaries, from the 1975 mystery Picnic at Hanging Rock to the 2019 Judy Garland bio-pic Judy . He also produced a Broadway production of An American in Paris . 

Since 1961, Goodman worked in the alcoholic beverage industry. He came to the U.S. in 1982 as CEO of U.S. Operations of Barton Brands; and helped popularize Corona beer, as he would recount in his book, Corona: The Inside Story of America’s #1 Imported Beer. He retired as chairman and CEO of Barton Incorporated in 1998.

He also wrote Cold War spy novels revolving around a Jewish family–he found inspiration in records of his grandparents in Poland- and a short story collection. Upon leaving the beverage business, he became chairman of a commercial real estate firm.

Goodman leant his expertise to many local boards, including the Kellogg School of Management, the Chicago International Film Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. 

Ellis M. Goodman is survived by his wife, Gillian, and his son, Paul. Arrangements were made by Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home.