Stuart Balkin, age 93, of Monroeville, PA died on Monday, May 28, 2007. Mr. Balkin was born and raised in Chicago and had lived in Highland Park for 53 years. He was the beloved husband for 61 years of the late Dorothy Stein Balkin. He was well loved by his children Kenneth (Nancy) Balkin of Skokie, IL and Carol (Kenneth) Hirsch of Pittsburgh, PA. Adored by his grandchildren Dr. Karen Hirsch (Lt. Co. Eric) Jackson, Dr. Rebecca (Noble) Newman, Craig Balkin, and David (Nicole Manna) Hirsch, and cherished by his great-grandson Isaac Massimo Hirsch. Mr. Balkin worked in the construction industry since the age of 14. After completing one year of his formal engineering education he joined his fathers construction firm. They built buildings and bridges, and during W.W. II they built an airfields barracks and temporary buildings. In 1963 he opened his own firm, Quantity Survey and Services. He sold estimates to contractors and he advised architects and engineers. In that capacity he was instrumental in the building of the John Hancock Center and the Sears Tower. Since 1968 he was an active Rotarian in Highland Park, IL and Monroeville, PA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Rotary International or Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism, 1221 County Line Road, Highland Park, IL 60035.
