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Longtime legal face of UOP Corp. dies at age 74

A former chief consul for UOP in Des Plaines, who served as the face of company in many of its negotiations with major oil companies all over the world, has died.

Harold "Hal" Bergendorf spent his entire career with UOP, from 1959 to 1998, when he retired as head of its legal department. During those years, he lived in Arlington Heights and most recently in Prospect Heights. He was 74.

Mark James, one of UOP's attorneys who worked under Mr. Bergendorf, describes his former mentor as one who approached each negotiation in a positive manner, hoping to elicit a "win-win" arrangement for both sides.

"His philosophy shaped our whole legal department," James says. "He was a very positive guy and not confrontational. His philosophy in negotiations was to try and make it work for everyone."

For more than 90 years, UOP, formerly United Oil Products, has been a leader in developing technology for the oil refining, petrochemical and gas processing industries.

Mr. Bergendorf started his career with UOP as a chemical engineer in 1959, before attending law school at night. Colleagues say he eventually moved into the legal department, where drawing on his engineering background he specialized in negotiating technical licensing agreements with major oil companies.

"He was the face of UOP on the legal side," James adds. "He opened doors for the company all over the world, and was highly regarded with executives with Shell Oil, Chevron and Amoco, before it became BP."

Mr. Bergendorf was the first UOP lawyer to be stationed in its London office, and there he developed many of the company's European contacts. He worked during UOP's great expansion years, when the company opened up positions in Singapore and Beijing.

"He played an important role with the growth of UOP, and of the industry," James says simply.

Mr. Bergendorf's second wife, Jane, said condolences have been pouring in from business colleagues all over the world, who remembered him as a skilled negotiator and business leader.

"People just felt he had had a big impact on the refinery business," his wife said. "They felt he could negotiate with anyone."

Ironically, his calm, nonconfrontational style at the negotiating table belied his fierce competitive demeanor on the handball court. Mr. Bergendorf played handball at the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines for 40 years.

Besides his wife, Mr. Bergendorf is survived by his children Michael (Yvonne) Bergendorf, Karla (Alan) Meshberg, David (Tracy) Bergendorf; dear stepfather of William Large and Mary Jane (Doug) Widney-Large; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 3-9 p.m. Friday before an 11 a.m. memorial service Saturday, both at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 100 W. Michigan Ave. in Palatine.