Obituaries

July 1, 2008
Jim Nolan, founder and retired CEO of Shat-R-Shield, Salisbury, N.C., passed away after a brief illness on June 11. He was 82 years old. Nolan was born

Jim Nolan, founder and retired CEO of Shat-R-Shield, Salisbury, N.C., passed away after a brief illness on June 11. He was 82 years old.

Nolan was born May 9, 1926, in North Wales, Pa., and resided on Amelia Island, Fla., for the past four years.

He served in the Maritime Service during World War II and with the Army Signal Corp. in Korea during 1951-1953. In later life, he headed Shat-R-Shield Inc., a company he founded that manufactured and marketed shatterproof fluorescent bulbs.

Nolan invented the first plastic-coated, shatterproof fluorescent lamp in the mid-1970s. He then went on to create Shat-R-Shield, which has grown to be a very successful business. After retiring from Shat-R-Shield in 1997, Nolan left the operation of the company to his son, Robert, who serves as CEO.

Noland is survived by his wife, Peggy; his sons, Timothy R. and Robert J.; three grandchildren, Kathryn, Shay, and Hayley; four sisters, Elizabeth Groomes, Patricia Meston, Kathryn Butterworth and Claire Stanford.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, Fla., 32257.

Isidore “Izzy” Scheinman, founder of Idlewood Electric Supply Inc., Highland Park, Ill., died May 27. He was 85 years old.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the company's founding. Scheinman started Idlewood Electric in 1958 in Highland Park, Ill. Before that, he flew B-29bombers overseas in the Army Air Force during World War II in 1944.

Idlewood Electric Supply began in a small, rented building in 1958 in Highland Park. In 1970, the company moved to its new showroom location in Highland Park. In 1996 it expanded to Barrington. In 2000, Idlewood opened in Chicago, on Irving Park Road.

In 1993, the second generation took the reins of the company, supported by numerous employees, many with tenures spanning five to more than 25 years.

Until his passing, Izzy maintained an office in the Highland Park location. He worked a limited schedule, but even on the days he wasn't there, everyone sensed Izzy standing right behind them, beaming with pride and offering a suggestion or two.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children, Murray, Jeffrey and Barbara; eight grandchildren and his sister, Bea Dolin.