INFORMATION FROM PHIL HSKETT (RET)
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2023 7:35 pmEugene Anderson.png
Eugene R. Anderson, September 4, 1940 - May 30, 2023. Eugene R. Anderson, 82, the founder of Anderson Lock Company, who transformed his one-man locksmith shop into Chicago's premier commercial door and locksmith services company, died at home on May 30, 2023, in Paradise Valley, AZ. At age 20, Gene founded Anderson Lock in the corner of his parents' Chicago Ace Hardware store. He worked days as a locksmith and nights as a Howard Johnson bellhop to sustain his dream. Before long, his parents and brother joined him at Anderson Lock on Oakton Street in Des Plaines. The visionary entrepreneur built the business by establishing relationships with customers throughout the northwest corridor and with hospitals and school districts that required reliable products and services. In 1962, he joined the military and spent six months on active duty in the Naval Air Reserve as a helicopter mechanic. He also worked on airplanes as a locksmith putting locks on cockpit doors at nearby O'Hare Airport. His security interest led him to serve on the Des Plaines Police Reserves from 1965 to 1976. In addition, Gene was active in the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, as well as locksmith and door hardware organizations. Gene, an innovative business leader, published a comprehensive catalog in the 80s, something many people discouraged, but it brought about a spike in sales and 15 minutes of fame to the business when "his locks" were featured in Chicago-based movies, including "The Breakfast Club" and "My Bodyguard." He constantly reinvested in the business. He was ethical, with a passion for providing high-quality products and services the right way. He led by example, training lock techs, office staff, and warehouse workers. His vision for his company was to be the best. There is no greater testament to the type of businessman that he was than to look at the tenure of his people. Fourteen have been at Anderson Lock for over 30 years, and many of the teenagers he hired years ago have celebrated 40-year anniversaries. He believed in his employees, and they were motivated to do their best for him. Today, the thriving lock sales and service company has two locations, 30 red service vehicles, and over 100 employees. Gene took his daughters, Cortney and Britt, to work on summer days and many Saturdays. Although Cortney assumed leadership of Anderson Lock in 2007, Gene was instrumental in locating and leading renovations of the current Door Division in Elk Grove. Gene and Teresa raised their family in Kildeer, IL, before moving to Lake Geneva, WI. As retirees, they lived in Naples, FL, and later in Paradise Valley, AZ. Gene, an avid golfer, made friends everywhere. He and Teresa shared a passion for new experiences which included a love for travel which they shared with their kids and grandkids. From a memorable Griswold-style RV trip to two three-month cruises as empty-nesters, they traveled the world seeing every continent except Africa. The character and values Gene brought to his marriage, family, and company have endured and will be his legacy. Gene was a successful yet humble man. He was a leader and had a spirit like no other. He never had a bad day ... and when asked, he would always say he was "swell!" He was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2019. Although his life faced new challenges outwardly, his spirit and positivity remained contagious. Gene is survived by his wife of 52 years, Teresa; their daughters, Cortney (Devin) Wascher and Britt (Brian) Ganan; their grandchildren, Will and Cathryn Wascher and Evie Ganan; and his brother, Norman (Grace) Anderson; niece, Denise (Todd) Wiley; and nephew, Dave (Stacy) Mente. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold O. (Andy) and Ella Anderson. Memorial Visitation Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 North Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Memorial Visitation 10:30 am Friday, June 9, 2023 until the 11:00 am Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights. Entombment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association "Team Gene," http://webchicago.alsa.org/goto/inmemoryofgene. Also, please save the date to honor Gene at our third annual "Team Gene" walk, August 10, 2023 at Anderson Lock in Des Plaines.
John Bittenbinder..jpg
John Joseph "JJ" Bittenbinder. Born in Buffalo, New York on September 1, 1942 and died peacefully with family present on May 26, 2023. Served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps; served 22 years in the Chicago Police Department, 18 years as Homicide Detective; and 10 years with the Cook County Sheriff's Department. He had a lifelong commitment to safety having written a book Tough Target: A Street-Smart Guide to Staying Safe, multiple television presentations and community outreach programs. He participated in many cattle drives as a spirited cowboy in Cody, Wyoming. Memorial Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 6, from 2 p.m. until time of Memorial Service, 7:30 p.m. at the Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the JJ Bittenbinder Award in Criminal Justice via the University of Illinois Foundation.
From the CPD Daily bulletin 3 June 2023.
Always Remembered!
Melvin E. Brown. . . . . . . . . . . 1970.
Death Notices!
Passed away 27 May 2023, Retired Police Officer Charles H ed Police Officer Timothy Davy, formerly assigned to Area 2 Detectives, brother of Sergeant Chris Davy assigned to 004th District. ughes, formerly assigned to 011th. District.
Passed away 01 June 2023, Retired Police Officer Timothy Davy, formerly assigned to Area 2 Detectives, brother of Sergeant Chris Davy assigned to 004th District
Eugene R. Anderson, September 4, 1940 - May 30, 2023. Eugene R. Anderson, 82, the founder of Anderson Lock Company, who transformed his one-man locksmith shop into Chicago's premier commercial door and locksmith services company, died at home on May 30, 2023, in Paradise Valley, AZ. At age 20, Gene founded Anderson Lock in the corner of his parents' Chicago Ace Hardware store. He worked days as a locksmith and nights as a Howard Johnson bellhop to sustain his dream. Before long, his parents and brother joined him at Anderson Lock on Oakton Street in Des Plaines. The visionary entrepreneur built the business by establishing relationships with customers throughout the northwest corridor and with hospitals and school districts that required reliable products and services. In 1962, he joined the military and spent six months on active duty in the Naval Air Reserve as a helicopter mechanic. He also worked on airplanes as a locksmith putting locks on cockpit doors at nearby O'Hare Airport. His security interest led him to serve on the Des Plaines Police Reserves from 1965 to 1976. In addition, Gene was active in the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, as well as locksmith and door hardware organizations. Gene, an innovative business leader, published a comprehensive catalog in the 80s, something many people discouraged, but it brought about a spike in sales and 15 minutes of fame to the business when "his locks" were featured in Chicago-based movies, including "The Breakfast Club" and "My Bodyguard." He constantly reinvested in the business. He was ethical, with a passion for providing high-quality products and services the right way. He led by example, training lock techs, office staff, and warehouse workers. His vision for his company was to be the best. There is no greater testament to the type of businessman that he was than to look at the tenure of his people. Fourteen have been at Anderson Lock for over 30 years, and many of the teenagers he hired years ago have celebrated 40-year anniversaries. He believed in his employees, and they were motivated to do their best for him. Today, the thriving lock sales and service company has two locations, 30 red service vehicles, and over 100 employees. Gene took his daughters, Cortney and Britt, to work on summer days and many Saturdays. Although Cortney assumed leadership of Anderson Lock in 2007, Gene was instrumental in locating and leading renovations of the current Door Division in Elk Grove. Gene and Teresa raised their family in Kildeer, IL, before moving to Lake Geneva, WI. As retirees, they lived in Naples, FL, and later in Paradise Valley, AZ. Gene, an avid golfer, made friends everywhere. He and Teresa shared a passion for new experiences which included a love for travel which they shared with their kids and grandkids. From a memorable Griswold-style RV trip to two three-month cruises as empty-nesters, they traveled the world seeing every continent except Africa. The character and values Gene brought to his marriage, family, and company have endured and will be his legacy. Gene was a successful yet humble man. He was a leader and had a spirit like no other. He never had a bad day ... and when asked, he would always say he was "swell!" He was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2019. Although his life faced new challenges outwardly, his spirit and positivity remained contagious. Gene is survived by his wife of 52 years, Teresa; their daughters, Cortney (Devin) Wascher and Britt (Brian) Ganan; their grandchildren, Will and Cathryn Wascher and Evie Ganan; and his brother, Norman (Grace) Anderson; niece, Denise (Todd) Wiley; and nephew, Dave (Stacy) Mente. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold O. (Andy) and Ella Anderson. Memorial Visitation Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 North Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Memorial Visitation 10:30 am Friday, June 9, 2023 until the 11:00 am Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights. Entombment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association "Team Gene," http://webchicago.alsa.org/goto/inmemoryofgene. Also, please save the date to honor Gene at our third annual "Team Gene" walk, August 10, 2023 at Anderson Lock in Des Plaines.
John Bittenbinder..jpg
John Joseph "JJ" Bittenbinder. Born in Buffalo, New York on September 1, 1942 and died peacefully with family present on May 26, 2023. Served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps; served 22 years in the Chicago Police Department, 18 years as Homicide Detective; and 10 years with the Cook County Sheriff's Department. He had a lifelong commitment to safety having written a book Tough Target: A Street-Smart Guide to Staying Safe, multiple television presentations and community outreach programs. He participated in many cattle drives as a spirited cowboy in Cody, Wyoming. Memorial Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 6, from 2 p.m. until time of Memorial Service, 7:30 p.m. at the Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the JJ Bittenbinder Award in Criminal Justice via the University of Illinois Foundation.
From the CPD Daily bulletin 3 June 2023.
Always Remembered!
Melvin E. Brown. . . . . . . . . . . 1970.
Death Notices!
Passed away 27 May 2023, Retired Police Officer Charles H ed Police Officer Timothy Davy, formerly assigned to Area 2 Detectives, brother of Sergeant Chris Davy assigned to 004th District. ughes, formerly assigned to 011th. District.
Passed away 01 June 2023, Retired Police Officer Timothy Davy, formerly assigned to Area 2 Detectives, brother of Sergeant Chris Davy assigned to 004th District