Kenneth Norgan, stalwart patron of Harris Theater, dies

Chicago Tribune

19 hours ago

Chicago businessman and philanthropist Kenneth Norgan was on the board of several local institutions including the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, where he was the founding sponsor of the 'Beyond the Aria' series.
'Ken's 10-year commitment to underwriting our premier series, 'Beyond the Aria,' was legendary … raising awareness of opera and classical music while building relationships one by one,' said Harris Theater co-founder Abby McCormick O'Neil. 'We bonded over the years as friends who both loved the mission of the theater and everything it was trying to do to capture and build an audience.'
Norgan, 82, died of complications of a pulmonary embolism on June 9 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said Matt Olaveson, a longtime friend and fellow Swedish American Museum board member. A Streeterville resident, Norgan previously had lived in Lake Forest.
Born in the North Side Lincoln Park neighborhood, Norgan grew up in Lincolnwood and was the son and grandson of the owners of the Norgan Pontiac auto dealership on the Northwest Side. When he was a teenager, his parents agreed to invest in a new fast-food business founded by their friend Ray Kroc, and in short order, Norgan was working at the first franchised McDonald's restaurants that his family bought, in Glenview and Libertyville.
After receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in linguistics from the University of Michigan, Norgan taught German at Maine South High School in Park Ridge until 1971, when he rejoined his family's business. Ultimately, he owned and oversaw 13 McDonald's franchise restaurants in the northern suburbs.
Norgan was a founding member of Ronald McDonald House Charities, an organization that provides housing for the families of hospitalized children. In 2010, Norgan was a co-chair of a campaign to build the 80-room, 16-story Ronald McDonald House at 211 E. Grand Ave. in Streeterville, near Lurie Children's Hospital. The $40 million facility opened in 2012.
Norgan also was a longtime board member and a former board chair for the Harris Theater, which in November 2003 opened a nearly 1,500-seat theater in Millennium Park that offers a performing space for small and medium-sized music and dance organizations.
'His passion for music and dance was unwavering,' said Michael Tiknis, the Harris Theater's former president and managing director. 'He was always either at a performance or on his way to one.'
Tiknis recalled traveling with Norgan to Hamburg, Germany, to see the Hamburg Ballet as part of the preparation to bring that troupe to the Harris.
Harris Theater President and CEO Lori Dimun said Norgan's devotion to the theater was 'beautifully expressed' through his role as the founding supporter of the 'Beyond the Aria' series, which was launched during the 2014-15 season. The series brings together stars from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and emerging artists from the Ryan Opera Center.
''Beyond the Aria' reflected everything Ken loved — artistic excellence, intimate connection between performers and audience, and the joy of experiencing something deeply personal and movingly,' Dimun said. 'Many of our longtime subscribers were introduced to 'Beyond the Aria' because Ken invited them. He didn't just support the series — he built a beautiful community around it.'
Dimun also highlighted Norgan's work in developing the Harris Theater's partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, which, she said, 'became a cornerstone of our community engagement work.'
O'Neil noted that Norgan always tried to avoid the spotlight when marking milestones in the Harris Theater's history.
'He never wanted the attention or the spotlight and actually was quite shy. As a result, we became a bit of a comic routine — I always wanted him at the podium with me and egged him on to speak,' O'Neil said. 'In keeping with who he was, Ken with a smile on his face would say as little as possible when I would ask him to speak. Over the years, we made donors laugh with our routine that just organically grew out of my determination to make him say something and his resolve to be as silent as possible.'
Norgan also served on the boards of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Ryan Opera Center. Proud of his Swedish heritage, he also served on the boards of the Swedish American Museum and the foundation board of Swedish Covenant Hospital.
'Ken got involved with the Swedish American Museum on many levels,' said the museum's co-founder and former executive director, Kerstin Lane. 'Ken was a gentle soul with much to give to this world.'
Norgan also had a home in southwest Michigan for many years.
Norgan is survived by his partner of 28 years, Jose 'Pepe' Conforme; and a brother, William.
A memorial service will take place on Sunday, July 27, at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago.