Frank Martin Paris, 87 of River Forest and Stuart, Florida, died on Jan. 28, 2026. Born on November 27, 1938, he was a lifelong River Forest resident who later also called Stuart home. A devoted public servant, entrepreneur, mentor, athlete, adventurer, he believed in trying everything life had to offer.
He served River Forest for more than 20 years, first as village trustee (1988–1992) and then as village president (1992–2008). He ran on a vision of bringing the village into the 21st century and delivered through practical, community-focused leadership. Under his leadership, River Forest was recognized as one of the top 10 suburbs in the Chicago area by Chicago Magazine.
His work helped lower taxes by legalizing alcohol sales, preserved neighborhood character by developing the Priory into single-family homes rather than high-density condominiums while adding significant park land, and advanced the demolition of the long-abandoned Wieboldt’s building, leading to the development of the River Forest Town Center mall.
He served as chairman of the River Forest Traffic and Safety Commission, was a former and current director of the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce, and served as president of the River Forest Service Club. Like his father, Frank Paris, he was honored in 2007 as Man of the Year with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian American Chamber of Commerce.
Born and raised in River Forest, he graduated from St. Luke School in 1953 and from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1957. He became the first OPRF wrestler to advance to the Illinois State Tournament in Champaign and played football on both sides of the ball — nose guard on defense and an offensive lineman. He continued wrestling and football at Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Business, graduating in 1962.
Frank left law school early to start Paris, O’Day, & Reed, a highly successful product-liability insurance firm. After selling the company, he co-founded Oak Brook Bank and became its president, then went on to buy and sell several businesses, including Taylor Chain Bolt Master, a chain-link manufacturing company. He sat on numerous civic and corporate boards.
A longtime member of the Oak Park Country Club and Sailfish Point in Stuart, Florida, he was an avid outdoorsman and traveler, who loved fishing, hunting, and boating. His life was filled with “Frank stories,” all rooted in a willingness to step up when it mattered.
Frank was married since 1968 to Gail Paris (née Leabhard), whom he called “the person I admire most in the world.” He helped his children pursue their dreams and start their own businesses — F. Martin Paris Jr. (Lea), Arthur Paris (Cassandra Damm), Amy Paris (Mark Menacho), and Elizabeth (Beth) Cohen (TJ). He was the grandfather of F. Martin III, Conor, Maeve, Jack, Quinn, Grace, and Hugh Paris (Marty); Severin, Zelda, and Huxley Paris (Arthur); Luke and Cruz Menacho (Amy); and Benjamin, Catherine, and Olivia Cohen (Beth); and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Rosalie Paris (née Lezza) and is survived by his sister, Jeanine Schutz (John); his uncle, Tony Paris; and his brothers- and sisters-in-law Joyce Stockholm; Jack and Nancy Strand; and Jane and Don Stahlhut.
He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
