MANALAPAN — Albert C. Ebert's family have long told the story of
his very first business venture. With the Great Depression still
gripping America, the 3-year-old entrepreneur used to dig up clumps
of grass from the neighbors' lawns in his native Chicago, transport
them to the next block in his wagon, and sell them. A resident of
Manalapan for 23 years, Mr. Ebert died Nov. 20. He was 76, and a
man whose early knack for business only grew with time. "He was a
sharp businessman," recalled his sister-in-law, Linda Rawls, of
Boynton Beach. "He bought his first property when he was 13." At
18, Mr. Ebert opened his first real estate office, which employed
more than 40 representatives. Over the next 50 years, Albert C.
Ebert & Associates became well-known in major commercial
property development in downtown Chicago, buying, building,
remodeling and selling more than a thousand properties in the
city's Lakeview, Northwest and Loop areas. "But he always found
time to have a good time," Rawls said. "He had an incredible joy in
life. He loved to have fun, and when you were around him, you had
fun, too." Mr. Ebert is also remembered for his many social and
philanthropic interests. Locally, he served on the board of
governors of Palm Beach Opera and was a member of the International
Society of Palm Beach and of Club Colette, a Palm Beach social
club. He was also a Grand Benefactor of Leaders In Furthering
Education (LIFE), a sister organization of the Lois Pope Life
Foundation. In Chicago, Mr. Ebert was an "Old Guard" member of the
Chicago Yacht Club, as well as a sustaining member of the Los
Angeles Opera and a benefactor of the Thalians Mental Health Clinic
at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Mr. Ebert is survived by
his wife of 40 years, Terry L.; another sister-in-law, Chris
Armstrong, of Toronto; five nieces, and many great nieces and
nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial
donations be made to a charity.
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