Eli Field

Eli Field immigrated from England when he was 13 and became an entrepreneur whose business success was matched by his efforts on behalf of Jewish causes. After graduating from Crane High School and working as a salesman for a box manufacturer, he launched the Field Container Corporation in 1942 with $500. His business card read Eli Field, salesman. He never retired.

Eli had many roles at the JUF/Federation. He was a longtime board member who served as JUF general campaign chairman in 1982, and chaired the Project Renewal Committee, Treasurer's (now Contributor Account Relations) Committee, and the JUF Paper and Products Division.

Eli was proudest of his local philanthropic work with the JUF/Jewish Federation, the Holocaust Memorial Museum and North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. His favorite JUF responsibility was overseeing the developing relationship between Chicago and the neighborhood of Amishav in Petach Tikvah through Project Renewal. He loved going to Israel, working with local Amishav leaders and seeing dreams become reality.

Through The Centennial Campaign, Eli and his wife, Dina, endowed the Eli & Dina Field EZRA Multi-Service Center in Uptown, which provides services for disadvantaged individuals and families.

In recognition of his great achievements on behalf of the Jewish community, Eli Field received the JCC's Hall of Fame Award in 1984 and the Federation's Julius Rosenwald Award and the American Jewish Committee's Human Rights Medallion in 1988. He served on the board of the Hebrew Seminary for the Deaf; was a past president of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El; and was a Golden Giver member of the Jewish United Fund.

Eli Field passed away on January 30, 2006 at the age of 96. His wife of 73 years, Dina passed away on December 8, 2006. They are survived by five children, many grandchildren and great-grand children.