If you are a graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (or the prior Northwestern University Masters in Management program) in any year from 1972 to 2010, I am confident you had the pleasure of getting to know a very special person, colleague, and friend: Dean Ed Wilson, better known to many of us as either “Mr. Kellogg” or “Dean Don Jacobs’ right hand man.”
As summarized in the notes below, Dean Ed Wilson passed away last week. The one thing I am extremely confident of is that if there is a heaven, Ed is now standing at the pearly gates with St. Peter and smiling broadly as he greets everyone with that famous Irish smile and Bostonian accent.
Here is a link to his obituary, and I am including a wonderful note from Dean Cornelli at the end of my post.
Over the years, even after Ed retired from Kellogg, I had the opportunity to visit him several times, including last Sunday, just a few days before he passed. He was one of the most influential people in my life. I reflect on the time in 1976 (how could it be 46 years ago?😳) when a young admissions dean from Northwestern’s business school drove up to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin to convince a bunch of us 21-year-old liberal arts majors to get a masters in business. I ended up accepting Dean Wilson’s invitation to visit Northwestern — after all, how could anyone say “no” to Dean Wilson?
This turned out to be the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship. Ed was a huge Boston Red Sox fan, and several of my Kellogg classmates, including Ken Kulas, took him to Cubs and NU baseball games. Dean Wilson frequently called me while I was the CFO and CEO of Baxter International. Then when I was leaving Baxter he convinced Dean Jacobs that I should return to Kellogg as a professor and teach leadership! (Again, how could I say no!🤣)
To say that Ed loved Kellogg is an understatement. He loved the school, our intense focus on values and teamwork, and amazingly, he seemed to remember the names of every alumni and attended almost every reunion throughout the years.
As I reflect on my time with Ed, I think what I will miss most is his wonderful sense of humor. For example, here’s a portion of an email he sent me several years ago:
“Harry, a friend sent this to me. I think you and Julie will enjoy these quotes: 🤣🤣🤣🤣
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
- You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
— Alan, age 10 - No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
— Kristen, age 10
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
- Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
— Camille, age 10
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
- You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
— Derrick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
- Both don’t want any more kids.
— Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
- Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say…if you listen long enough.
— Lynnette, age 8
(Isn’t she a treasure?) - On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
— Martin, age 10
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
- When they’re rich.
— Pam, age 7 - The law says you have tobe eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
— Curt, age 7 - The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
— Howard, age 8
IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
- It’s better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
— Anita, age 9 (Bless you, child.)
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED?
- There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
— Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is …….
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
- Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
— Ricky, age 10
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Note from Dean Cornelli:
Dear Kellogg Community,
I am saddened to share that Ed Wilson ’84 MBA, who held numerous leadership positions at Kellogg including a 25-year tenure as dean of students, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at age 84. He served our school for more than 35 years and played an instrumental role in building Kellogg into the elite global institution that it is today.
The magnitude of Ed’s impact cannot be overstated. His commitment to Kellogg, along with the profound compassion and empathy he displayed, have made an enduring impact on Kellogg and so many of the people who knew him. He deeply cared about students and was with them every step of their Kellogg journey, remaining close to many of them after graduation. He was central to the creation of the distinctive Kellogg culture we hold dear today, with his focus on teamwork, collegiality and collaboration.
Ed began his long career at Kellogg in 1972 serving for a decade as director of admissions and financial aid for the full-time and part-time programs. He then stepped into his role as dean of students and was also director of what is now the executive MBA program. During his time leading that program, Ed pursued his own Kellogg EMBA, so that he could better understand and relate to EMBA students.
During his tenure, Kellogg transformed from a little-known program within Northwestern, receiving only 500 applications in his first year, to a prominent institution with an exponential uptick in applications. This can be directly traced back to Ed’s tireless recruiting efforts, in which he traversed the country convincing students atcountless schools to pursue what would eventually become the Kellogg MBA.
Ed touched so many people, and below are recollections from alumni, friends and colleagues:
“The two people who had the biggest impact on my life were Don Jacobs and Ed Wilson. Ed was magnetic,” says Harry Kraemer ’79 MBA, Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations, recalling the moment he met Ed as a senior and math major at Lawrence University, a small liberal arts college in Wisconsin. “He had this enormous smile. The Boston accent. He says, ‘You know what, you’d be really great in business. We need people like you to come to Northwestern.’ I didn’t know anything about business,” Kraemer notes. “The guy was an institution. He was Mr. Kellogg. The whole reason I’m now teaching at Kellogg is because of Ed.”
“Ed Wilson was a gifted administrator. For those of us who served alongside him in the Dean’s Office, he was a genuine pleasure to work with — not only because of his upbeat disposition and can-do attitude — but also because whenever he brought a problem to our attention, he almost always also offered us an array of suggested potential solutions to that problem, often including creative approaches that defused tense situations,” says David Besanko ’80 MS, ’82 PhD, IBM Professor of Regulation and Competitive Practice. “After Ed stepped down in 2002, as I carried out my responsibilities in the Dean’s Office, I was guided by the WWED principle: ‘What would Ed do?’”
“Those of us fortunate to have known Dean Wilson best not only witnessed, but were elevated and transformed by his passion, contagious enthusiasm and relentless efforts to cultivate, preserve and protect our Kellogg culture,” says Brian Harris ’96 MBA. “On a more personal note, Dean Wilson changed my life for the better during my time at Kellogg and in the decades since and I am forever grateful.”
“Ed Wilson supported me so quietly and kindly on a number of matters at Kellogg when the world erected barriers to women. He was a true gentleman and an amazing person,” an alumna shared with Kraemer.
“Ed was a beloved dean. He was a tireless cheerleader for all students, attending countless student activities and sports events. He memorized the names of all the incoming full-time students so he could welcome them individually. He always had a twinkle in his eye, a grin on his face and boundless energy,” says Carole Cahill, Managing Director of Community Engagement at Kellogg.
After retiring in 2002, he returned to Kellogg in 2008 for a year and a half to serve as associate dean of alumni relations, supporting the school’s Centennial celebrations and advancing alumni engagement efforts. Ed was awarded the Wade Fetzer Award in 2012, which recognizes outstanding dedication and loyalty in support of Kellogg’s alumni body.
There will be a celebration of Ed’s life next week. The wake will be Monday, Sept. 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Donnellan Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. The funeral mass will be Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 1775 Grove Street in Glenview.
If you would like, Ed’s family has provided the opportunity to make a gift in his honor using this link: https://giving.nu/DeanWilson.
Please join me in wishing heartfelt condolences to Ed’s daughters Katie Hill and Karen Carioscia and their families.
All my best,
Francesca
