David B. Pivan, 76, a widely known Chicago engineer and consultant, died May 25 of a stroke at his home.
In 1954, Mr. Pivan founded Pivan Engineering Co. After successful expansion of the company, he sold it in 1976.
Deciding upon a less technologically centered career, Mr. Pivan started Pivan Management company, which financed young startup companies. Both Pivan companies were well known in the Midwest, said his wife, Rita.
Right out of college, Mr. Pivan founded the first classical FM radio station in Chicago, WMOR, although his wife stressed the format often included folk music. Throughout his life, Mr. Pivan remained active with amateur radio and was a licensed pilot.
He was a former board chairman and charter member of Intermec Corp. in Seattle, which worked with early bar-code technology. He was also chairman of Wavetek Corp. and a board member for Corcom Inc., a Chicago-area technology company. With his wife, Mr. Pivan established a scholarship fund for students at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
He also worked with Engineers for the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training and was a member of North Shore Congregation Israel.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Lynn and Janice; a son, Mark; four grandchildren; and a sister.
Services were held Wednesday at Piser Chapel in Skokie.
