Wesley M Dixon Jr

Wesley M. Dixon Jr., a pharmaceutical executive, over the years chaired the boards of leading arts, health and educational institutions in the Chicago area, including the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Born in Evanston, Mr. Dixon was the grandson of Silas Strawn, one of the founders of the law firm Winston & Strawn. His father, Wesley M. Dixon Sr., was the Container Corporation of America's chairman and CEO in the early 1960s. Mr. Dixon attended Hotchkiss School in Connecticut and received a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1950. After serving in the Air Force, Mr. Dixon worked for Owens-Illinois for five years. In 1953, Mr. Dixon married Suzanne Searle, whose family controlled G.D. Searle. The following year, he joined Searle as a foreign trade assistant. He advanced quickly and was vice chairman at the time of Searle's sale to Monsanto in 1985. Mr. Dixon joined the Art Institute's board of trustees in the 1960s, became chairman in 1993 and later a life trustee. He and his wife gave money and artwork to the museum. At Lake Forest College, Mr. Dixon was a trustee for 50 years. He chaired multiple fundraising campaigns, including one in 1993 that generated $41 million, and he helped fund a science and research center that bears his family's name, the recently built Moore Hall residence building, an endowed technology fund and an endowed faculty chair. Mr. Dixon and his wife donated $20 million in 2007 to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for research to help translate research laboratory experiments into bedside treatments. He also chaired Lake Forest Hospital's board from 1974 until 1976. Northwestern acquired Lake Forest Hospital in 2010. Mr. Dixon also is survived by his wife; two daughters, Karie Thomson and Carolynn Loacker; a son, John; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.