Billionaire businessman James “Jim” Crown died on his 70th birthday in a car accident at the Aspen Motorsports Park in Colorado.
The Colorado Sun reported that Crown was killed in an accident after his car crashed into an impact barrier.
While the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office said the official cause of Crown’s death is still “pending autopsy,” the coroner indicated that “multiple blunt force trauma” was evident as a result of the collision with the impact barrier.
A representative of the Crown family told the media the family is “deeply saddened” by the loss of the philanthropic billionaire. The representative added that the family has requested privacy during “this difficult time.
According to the New York Post, Crown was the managing partner of Aspen Skiing Co. and the CEO and president of Henry Crown and Company, his family’s business. Crown reportedly split his time between Chicago and Colorado; however, Chicago served as his primary residence.
Crown served as a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a nonprofit community organization.
According to CBS Chicago, Crown recently helped the Civic Committee launch a program working to raise millions of dollars in the next few years to reduce the level of crime in Chicago. The initiative is partnering with local leaders and organizations in the community.
READ MORE: Troops killed in Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter crash
“A lifelong Chicagoan, Jim gave back to the city through philanthropy and leadership on a number of civic and academic boards as he was deeply committed to investing in Chicago and its people,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
“With his generosity, Jim truly embodied the soul of Chicago. I was especially grateful for his commitment to work collaboratively with my administration to build a safer Chicago, having met recently to share ideas. I send my deepest condolences to his wife, four children, grandchildren, and the entire Crown family and pray for their peace.”
Crown also served as a JPMorgan board member since the early 1990s. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon expressed the company’s “deepest condolences” regarding Crown’s tragic accident. Dimon noted that Crown was an “integral part” of JP Morgan Chase and that his “presence will be deeply missed.”
In 2014, Crown was appointed by former President Barack Obama to the Intelligence Advisory Board. The former president said he and Michelle Obama were “heartbroken” over news of his death on Monday.
“Jim was a pillar of Chicago, a prominent voice in the Jewish community, and a true civic leader who loved our city,” Barack and Michelle Obama said. “He cared deeply about Chicago and making it a place where everyone could thrive — no matter who they are or what part of town they call home.”
According to the New York Post, Crown is survived by his wife Paula, their four children, multiple grandchildren and both his parents.
