November 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Congressman John N. Erlenborn, who was President of LSC from June 2001 to January 2004 and Vice Chairman of the LSC Board from 1989-1990 and 1996-2003, passed away on Sunday, October 30, at the age of 78.
Congressman Erlenborn served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965-1985, representing a suburban Chicago district. He is best known for being a primary author of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the federal law that governs employee benefits to this day. He was also one of the original co-sponsors of the Legal Services Corporation Act, which became law in 1974.
Congressman Erlenborn was appointed to the LSC Board on two occasions: by President Bush in 1989 and by President Clinton in 1996. On both occasions, he was elected Vice Chairman by the LSC Board. In 2001, the Board selected him as President of LSC, a position he held until President Helaine M. Barnett took office in January of 2004.
"John Erlenborn was one of the driving forces in creating and sustaining the Legal Services Corporation over the last thirty years," according to President Barnett. "Speaking for the entire legal services community, we will miss him."
There will be an announcement at a later date about a memorial service.
(For a more detailed obituary that appeared in the Chicago Tribune, go to: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/chi0511020
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