Jack Purdy, 89, an entrepreneur who started a steel-processing company, died of respiratory arrest Wednesday, Jan. 30, in his Beverly home. Mr. Purdy was a lifelong Chicagoan. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a business administration degree in 1934. Mr. Purdy worked at the Hyman-Michaels Co. until 1945 when he started Purdy Co., based in Burnham. Mr. Purdy never retired. Though he has been ill for the last four years, it didn’t stop him from working, family said. “He was barking orders into the speaker phone until the last day,” said his daughter Anne Boyle. The Purdy Co. at one time had branches in California, Hawaii, Washington state and Tokyo, family members said. Mr. Purdy loved golfing and was a member of the Beverly Country Club for 55 years. He was the country club’s president for three years and served on the board of directors for 30 years. He was the director of Standard Bank & Trust Co. since 1971 and was the president of the finance committee at Christ the King Parish for three years in the 1970s. Mr. Purdy owned a winter home in Palm Desert, Calif., and was the former president of the homeowners association. In addition to his daughter, Mr. Purdy is survived his wife, Lorraine; another daughter, Joy Sullivan; a son, Robin; and 10 grandchildren. A service was held Saturday.
