Karl Nygren

September 3, 1927 - October 19, 2022

Karl F. Nygren, 95, Bay Area resident since 1987, died of complications of a heart attack on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Born on March 9, 1927, in WilkesBarre, PA, Karl was the son of a coal miner turned local politician and rose to become a prominent attorney with the noted firm now known as Kirkland and Ellis. His key achievements helped shape our modern world.

At 14, Karl’s mother moved her children to Washington, DC, where Karl helped support his family by delivering telegrams for Western Union. In 1944, Karl graduated from Gonzaga High School and enlisted in the Army. He served in a high-risk unit, trained to locate hostile long distance artillery in the anticipated invasion of Japan.

On the GI Bill, Karl attended DePaul University and the Law School of the University of Chicago. He joined Kirkland in 1950, rising to managing partner halfway through his 40-year affiliation with the firm. His diverse career involved both domestic and international matters. He helped pave the way for African American physicians to receive hospital staff privileges in Chicago. He represented Motorola before the FCC making possible the first cellular telephones. He represented Blue Cross Blue Shield and the American Medical Association. During times of rapid and dramatic change, his representation of various hospitals and healthcare organizations influenced healthcare and insurance practices. For 21 years, he was a board member of the Fortune 500 Harnischfeger Corporation of Milwaukee, WI.

His charitable work included being a trustee of De Paul University; a member of the Advisory Committee of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; a president of what is now the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago; the Chairman of the Executive Board of the American Judicature Society; a Co-Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; a member of the visiting committee of the Law School of the University of Chicago; and a governing member of the Chicago Symphony.

Retiring to California, he first taught at the Law School of Santa Clara University and then as Acting Professor at Stanford University Law School. Until his death, he retained memberships in the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations, and the Lawyers Club of Chicago.

Karl is survived by his loving partner, Beth DeAtley, of Piedmont, CA; his brother Edward J. Nygren; three children from his 51-year marriage to the late Elizabeth J. Parsons of Chicago (Phillip Nygren, James Nygren and Anne Doherty); four step-children from his seven-year marriage to the late Anne Marie Butenhoff of San Francisco (Kurt Butenhoff, Susan ButenhoffMani, Eric Butenhoff, and Kristen Butenhoff); as well as three grandchildren and six step-grandchildren.

Karl will be interred at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army, Piedmont Community Church, or a charity of your choice.