Tom Donovan, former CBOT CEO, dies at 88

Thomas Donovan, the Chicago Board of Trade’s CEO during the industry’s tumultuous transition to electronic trading, a job that tested his political skills honed at Mayor Richard J. Daley’s right hand, died at his Palos Park home on June 14. He was 88.

Tom Donovan, former CBOT CEO, dies at 88
Thomas Donovan, the Chicago Board of Trade’s CEO during the industry’s tumultuous transition to electronic trading, a job that tested his political skills honed at Mayor Richard J. Daley’s right hand, died at his Palos Park home on June 14. He was 88.

Donovan, 88, died of natural causes on June 14 at his home, said his son John Donovan. A resident of Palos Park who formerly lived in Bridgeport, Donovan had suffered a stroke in January but had been recovering well, his son said. Donovan also had a home in South Bend, Indiana.

Born in Chicago in 1937, Donovan grew up in Bridgeport and graduated from De La Salle Institute. He briefly attended the University of Illinois’ Navy Pier campus before working as a window glazier from 1956 until 1964. He then joined the Chicago Park District, where he worked in maintenance.