An icon of impact. That is the legacy of Jim Crown, JD ’80, whom so many of us across the Stanford community and beyond were blessed to know and treasure. Jim was by all measures a truly great man who in his quiet and humble way worked diligently every day to make lives better. His life embodied the spirit and values of altruism that are deeply ingrained in the mission of Stanford Law School—to inspire one another to explore, excel, and contribute to the world. Make no mistake, Jim did that and so much more.

I am truly blessed and honored to have known Jim, not only as a steadfast friend but also as a mentor and a dedicated philanthropist. I looked up to Jim in so many ways, and his untimely passing leaves a heartbreaking void in our community in Chicago and for our country.

Throughout his life, Jim always acted with the highest integrity and was steadfastly committed to using his power and influence to help those most in need. He was a visionary who saw the potential in people and organizations and always looked to help them grow and thrive. He was also an intensely compassionate and humble person who cared deeply about the well-being of others, no matter where they came from.

Jim was born in Chicago in 1953, the son of Renée and Lester Crown and the grandson of industrialist Henry Crown. He graduated from Hampshire College and Stanford Law School and worked at Salomon Brothers before joining his family’s investment firm, Henry Crown and Company, in 1985. He became president of the firm in 2002 and chairman and chief executive in 2018. He also served as a leading director of companies such as JPMorgan Chase & Co., General Dynamics, and Sara Lee. As a business leader, he continually fostered a culture of trust, accountability, opportunity, growth, and inclusion.

Yet Jim Crown’s remarkable achievements were not limited to the business world. In Chicago, Jim built a reputation as a dedicated servant leader who achieved real and lasting results on issues ranging from creating jobs and opportunity to supporting education to driving innovation and promoting greater civic engagement. He was an active member of a myriad of civic institutions, including the Civic Committee, the University of Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry, to name just a few.

Above all, the civic work that most defined Jim was his indefatigable commitment to end the scourge of gun violence, which has so gripped our beloved hometown. He personally spent millions of dollars and worked tirelessly for years to unite community leaders, politicians, and the private sector in developing an ambitious plan to address the root causes of gun violence. In doing so, he helped initiate a bevy of impactful solutions ranging from community violence intervention to criminal justice reform and employment opportunities for young men living in high crime areas. This work was often difficult and frustrating, given the endemic poverty that exists in too many of our neighborhoods, but Jim never wavered. And he never lost hope or his passion for making a difference—and his efforts indeed saved many lives.

Whether it was advising a U.S. president or the young person looking to make their way in the world, Jim treated everyone with respect and always served as a beacon of light and optimism. His powerful legacy lives on in the many people and organizations he touched with his service, courage, and leadership.

There is an old Hebrew phrase called tikkun olam, which is the concept of repairing the world through action. It’s also an apt description of the life of my friend Jim Crown. I miss him dearly—and will fondly remember the countless lessons he taught me, always in service to others.  SL

Penny Pritzker is an American businesswoman and civic leader who served as the 38th United States secretary of commerce in the Obama administration from 2013 to 2017.