Michael Shelist
PAUL WIEDER
Michael Shelist was a man with no fear of commitment. He maintained a business partnership for more than 30 years as co-founder of Much Shelist, P.C. He practiced law for more than 50 years. And he was married to his wife Sandy for more than 60 years.
Shelist died on June 11; he was 87.
A Golden Giver, Shelist generously supported the JUF Annual Campaign for more than 50 years. But he also gave of his time, serving for many years on JUF’s Professional Advisory Committee, including as chair. He also raised funds for Israel’s Technion university.
“Michael felt strongly about the need to give back, about being part of the community,” said David T. Brown, Much Shelist Chairman and member of JUF’s board. “The values he founded the firm with continue to today.”
Shelist chaired the board of Fire & Police Commissioners for Northbrook, and the board of the Northbrook-based International Center on Deafness and the Arts-which gave Marlee Matlin her stage debut.
Shelist attended undergrad at Northwestern University, where he majored in business-and met his future wife. He stayed on for law school at Northwestern, and chose to specialize in estate and succession planning.
He spent seven years at Nisen & Elliott, LLC, and then started his own firm with a friend named Morrie Much. Shelist met Much on a plane to New York in 1959; both were on their way to their honeymoons. Later, after Much had taken over a real estate firm, he turned to Shelist to handle his clients’ estates and trusts.
In the summer of 1970, Much Shelist opened in downtown Chicago. There, he served as managing partner for 30 years.
Born and raised in Chicago, he was a lifelong Chicago sports fan. In his teens, he sold soda outside of Wrigley Field– to pay for tickets inside. Years later, he would regularly take his family to games at all the local stadiums.
Family was a major focus for Shelist, especially after his father died at age 52. At Shelist’s own funeral, his siblings noted how he, the eldest son, stepped up and became the family’s leader, at only 27. Another commitment kept, for another 60 years.
Michael Shelist was the beloved husband of Sandra (nee Eisenberg), the loving father of Robert (Deborah), David (Wendi) and Arland (Cori), and the cherished grandfather of eight. He was the dear brother of Sheila (Norman) Lane and Vivian (Steve) Brownstein. Memorials may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Arrangements were made by Mitzvah Memorial Funerals.
