Longtime suburban businessman remembered for community service

Jim Lancaster, a well-known and respected suburban businessman who one friend said "seemed to have a driving force inside him," passed away Sunday at the age of 82.

Lancaster was remembered by friends and family for his fairness, his tireless work ethic and his commitment to community service.

"Everything he did, he gave 100 percent to," Lancaster's son, Craig, said. "He made sure (his five children) understood that if we were going to do something, we had to go all the way with it."

Jim Lancaster was born and raised in Nebraska, but settled in the Chicago area after graduating from Northwestern University in Evanston, Craig Lancaster said. Jim and his wife, Patti, who passed away in 2011, lived with their children in Mount Prospect and then moved to Barrington Hills.

Lancaster started his professional life working in computers for IBM, but switched to banking in 1970, when he became the executive vice president of operations at Hyde Park Bank. He later joined the Bank of Elk Grove, and he retired in 1997 as the president and chief executive officer of NBD Illinois.

"He was a very astute businessman," said Jim Fagerson, who was a colleague of Lancaster's in Elk Grove Village and became a good friend. "He was also a fair boss, and he was great at working with people. He was always so positive - if he had a disagreement with you he'd sit down and talk it out until you reached a consensus."

His success in the banking world was matched by his commitment to the larger community, friends and family say. Fagerson said Lancaster seemed to have a "driving force inside him" that kept him involved with community organizations.

Craig Lancaster said giving back to the community was a deeply ingrained priority for his father.

"It's just how he was," he said. "He'd get up well before sunrise and he wouldn't stop working until long after sunset. He wanted to help people."

Lancaster was active in a number of business groups in the Northwest suburbs, and served on the Harper College Educational Foundation as both a board member and as its president.

Later, he became an active supporter of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, serving on its Governing Council and on the Advocate Charitable Foundation Board.

"Jim Lancaster's impact with Advocate Health Care and Good Shepherd Hospital has been profound," said Karen Lambert, president of the hospital. "He was always thoughtful and thought-provoking as a leader throughout our organization. He will be deeply missed."

Craig Lancaster said despite how busy his father was, he remained warm and friendly to everyone.

"Whenever I first meet people who know my dad, they don't just say 'Oh yeah, I know him.' Their faces light up and they say 'Oh my gosh, he's such a great guy!' I'm talking really glowing reactions. He just had that kind of impact on people."