Gary Lee Fairchild

Gary Lee Fairchild was a lawyer who rose to become Managing Partner of one of the largest law firms in Chicago, after starting his career mopping floors at a bank in Johnston, Pennsylvania. He died peacefully in Clearwater, Florida on March 9th, surrounded by family and loved ones, from complications of multiple sclerosis. Fairchild was born on March 9th, 1943 in Johnstown Pennsylvania to Theodore Marrow and Jeanne Watson Fairchild.

Fairchild was an Army Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army during Vietnam, who also became Chairperson of the National College of Young Republicans. Prior to his MS diagnosis, he ran competitively in the Boston, Chicago and New York City marathons.

While movement – both professionally and physically — defined his life, it was the lack of movement that led to his enduring focus on his wife, children and loved ones.

Fairchild graduated from Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1965; from the University of Illinois with a Master’s in Public Administration in 1966; and a Juris Doctor from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in 1973. He was a Staff Assistant to U.S. Congressmen John North Erlenborn in 1966 and Assistant to the former Governor of the State Illinois, Otto Kerner in 1966. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois in 1972, prior to joining Winston and Strawn as an associate in 1973 and eventually becoming Managing Partner in 1987.

He served honorably in the Military Intelligence Unit of the United States Army.

While Fairchild will be remembered first for his drive and wit, his sense of humor was unparalleled. His laugh, more of a dry-heaving gasp, was indistinguishable. Some of his favorite activities were embarrassing his loved ones via hoots and hollers in public places. He was known for his one-line comments that would reduce a room to laughter. He was a man of few words.

At 6’ 3’’, and strikingly slim, he had perfect posture and was known for his collection of legendary suspenders. He was either dressed in an impeccable suit to go to a meeting, or in wind pants and a running shirt to go on a run or a bike ride. Fairchild was diagnosed with primary-progressive MS in the late 1980s when he was 50 years old.

“There is an upside to multiple sclerosis,” Fairchild wrote in 2019. “You learn a lot about yourself in the process, but you can take comfort and joy in the things you can still do.”

And joy and comfort he did take in the things he could still do. Most notably, spending time with his many dogs over the years and drinking copious amounts of dark roast coffee while enjoying a breakfast scone. He also struck up a habit of sending routine boxes of baked goods and care packages to his family members. While he was unable to meet many of the friends and colleagues of his loved ones, they knew Gary. Gary was the dad who sent cookies to the office every month. He was the dad who sent steaks to the house party or barbecue that he couldn’t attend.

Then there were the letters. Fairchild was known for writing personal, handwritten letters, to his children and loved ones on a regular basis. He would also read newspapers, magazines and books and routinely clipped out relevant articles and send them for his kids to read. For his daughter Caroline, a business journalist, it was always clips of prominent women across professions. For his other daughters Courtney and Deirdre, both business owners, it was the latest in the growth of small businesses in their various fields. The content of the letters varied, but one thing was constant: They always came with a five-dollar-bill and, if you were lucky, a stick of gum.

“You need to see this in writing as well as hear the words and that is I am very proud of you and all that you have done, not just as a student, but in the business world as well,” he wrote to his daughter Caroline in 2016. All his children have similar messages stored away to keep in memory of him.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Allen, sister, Carol Thompson, children Deirdre, Courtney, Jimmy and Caroline, stepsons BJ and Cameron, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

A private family ceremony will be celebrated at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider donating to The National MS Society.