Black Business and Civic Giant, Edward G. Gardner Passes away at 98

bridging the gap between young people in the community and the officers who serve the community was imperative. “That’s why we are here, said Officer Cox. We need them to see us, and we need to know them. Now we can have these conversations where they can understand that we are not here to scare them but protect them. We learn from these interactions and I need them to tell me what they need and assure them we are here to help.”

With the topic of community policing at the forefront in the upcoming mayoral election, Triplett, and Knox both say they are hopeful that other communities and neighborhoods will have programs like this. “It opened my eyes to how they are protecting my community”, said Knox. “I hope it helps bridge the gap and allows us to work better together”, said Triplett.

Officer Cox says events like this are what community policing is all about. “It’s about showing our humanity. This is what community policing is all about. Every school should have a program like this and an opportunity to get to know law enforcement in their district. If anything happens, these students can say, I can go to my local police Officer. I know him and that’s important.”

Coby Triplett agrees saying “We should have better connections and we shouldn’t be scared or fearful of one another. It makes our communities come together to become better.”

Follow them on social media @SafeStreetsChicago.

CNW Managing Editor, Danielle Sanders can be found on social media @DanieSandersOfficial.

Chicago has lost a true civic and community giant. Soft Sheen founder, Edward G. Gardner, humanitarian, business icon, and philanthropist, passed away peacefully Monday March 20 at the age of 98. He was surrounded by his wife, Bettiann, his children, and grandchildren. Gardner lived a life of selfless giving. He was best known for re-creating the historic Regal Theater, bringing major acts like Gladys Knight and newcomers like Tyler Perry to audiences at its location on the South Side. He was also known for being among the first to create a non-profit organization, Black On Black Love, that addressed violence in the community. Most of all, he was known, beloved and respected for using his company’s advertising and communication resources, leveraging a major financing initiative which raised over $300K, and staff to mount the campaign that registered over 200,000 voters in 1983, leading to the historic election of Harold Washington as Chicago’s first Black mayor.

In 2012, at the age of eighty-seven, he organized over 1,000 demonstrators on a march, alongside good friends Manford Byrd, Timuel Black, and Lerone Bennett, protesting the lack of Black workers at a major construction site on Chicago’s South Side.

In 1964, he and his wife Bettiann founded haircare company, Soft Sheen Products, Inc. In the years that followed, the company enjoyed exponential growth. By the late 1980s, it was the largest Black-owned beauty company in the U.S. Ed Gardner was a co-owner of The Chicago Bulls, and a board member at Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League. His son Gary remarked, “He was my father, my hero, my teacher. He taught me how to engage people with humanity and humility.” His daughter Terri added, “My father saw the untapped potential of his community. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we can’t achieve”.

A lifelong resident of Chicago, Edward George Gardner was born February 15, 1925, in the city’s West Chesterfield neighborhood to Frank Gardner and Eva (Brown) Gardner. He and his older brother, Frank, graduated from Fenger High School. After serving in the US Army in World War II, Ed earned his B.A. from Chicago Teachers’ College and an M.A. in Education from The University of Chicago. He pursued a career in education and worked part-time selling beauty supplies to local hair salons. In 1964, he and his wife Bettiann started hair care company, Soft Sheen Products.

Ed Gardner loved Chicago and Chicago loved him. A private family service will be held.