Jack O. Hedrich

Jack Oliver Hedrich died on April 11, 2017 at his home in Park Ridge. He was born January 10, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest son of Theodore Hedrich and Anna Sophia (Knudsen) Hedrich. He grew up in the Edgewater neighborhood and attended Chicago schools, graduating from Senn High School in 1944. Mr. Hedrich was an Eagle Scout. He served in the United States Air Force in Japan, following a year at Michigan State University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism under the GI Bill from the University of Missouri in 1949.

Following sales jobs at the Chicago Tribune and Von Schrader Manufacturing in Racine, Wisconsin, Hedrich joined (1953) his brothers, Ken, Ed, and Bill at Hedrich-Blessing Photography, where he retired as President in 1993. Internationally known for its architectural photography, Hedrich Blessing is recognized for its work with architects and designers including Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Albert Kahn, Buckminster Fuller, Eliel and Eero Saarinen, Minoru Yamasaki, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Harry Weese. One of Mr. Hedrich’s meaningful contributions while at Hedrich-Blessing was the donation of the firm’s archives, documenting the rise in architectural prominence of Chicago from 1929 to 1979, to the Chicago History Museum.

Mr. Hedrich lived a life of service, including serving as Board member and President of the Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 and mission trips with members of the Park Ridge Community Church and with Habitat for Humanity. He became a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1962 and went on to serve as President of Rotary/One during 1995-1996; Mr. Hedrich was a key member of Rotary’s 2005 Centennial Convention Host Organizational Committee and was responsible for creating and constructing Rotary’s Permanent Memorial Centennial Garden adjacent to Adler Planetarium. In 2014, Jack was made a Rotary Club of Chicago Lifetime Honorary Member for his service to the organization and community. He was a member of the University Club of Chicago from 1977 to 2012.

Mr. Hedrich had many interests including pitching for the Park Ridge Community Church softball team and singing in its Chancel Choir (who nicknamed him the Pun Master), a lifetime of bird hunting at the South End Gun Club in Spring Valley, Illinois with family and friends, and global travel with his wife, June.

Mr. Hedrich was preceded in death by his wife, June Manz Hedrich, to whom he was married for 66 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Hedrich and Anna Sophia (Knudsen) Hedrich, and brothers Ken, Ed, and Bill. He is survived by his daughters Teri Hedrich (husband Alfred Stachel) of Traverse City, Michigan, Jill Hedrich Mertens (husband David Mertens) of Vail, Colorado, and Juli Hedrich (husband Michael Chin) of Riverside, California. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Meredith Mertens and Jack Mertens, both of Denver, Colorado, and Alexander Chin and Andrew Chin, both of Riverside California. Additional survivors include fourteen nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at Park Ridge Community Church, 100 South Courtland Avenue, Park Ridge, Illinois on June 18, 2017 at two o’clock. The family will receive friends after the service in the church parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Rotary International at https://www.rotary.org/en/donate, to Park Ridge Community Church, or the Center of Concern, 1665 Elk Blvd, Des Plaines, IL 60016.

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