Alan B. Itzkowitz
FCSI, SCIP Emeritus, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CDT, LEED AP, ALA

July 5th, 1950 - September 30th, 2021

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our fellow CSI Member Alan B. Itzkowitz. Alan peacefully passed away on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at the age of 71, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer, with his family by his side. Services were held Monday, October 4, 2021 and the Chicago Chapter will be celebrating Alan on October 27, 2021 at our October Chapter Meeting.
 
Alan was born in 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture in Structures degree from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in 1973 and a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University in 1979.
 
Alan’s passion for specification writing was sparked while working for a structural engineering firm. Alan was involved in the specification writing process throughout his career, starting with writing project specifications, training architects and engineers to write specifications, and eventually becoming an in-house specification writer. He served as a FEMA disaster technical support specialist in recovery efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also served as a member of the City of Chicago’s Public Building Commission (PBC) Technical Committee, assisting the PBC in the development and maintenance of master specifications and design guidelines for city-owned facilities. In 2010, Alan started ABI Specifications Consulting, which is where he remained the rest of his career.
 
After attending his first CSI meeting in 1987, Alan almost immediately became involved in both the Chicago and Northern Illinois chapters where he served on multiple committees and both boards for numerous terms. Alan was a champion for CSI, vocally supporting membership, local chapter participation, and the continued development of CSI’s certificate and certification programs. To promote certification, Alan taught CDT study classes from 1993 to 2021, impacting well over 600 exam candidates. Alan’s engaging intellect, passionate dedication, and friendly demeanor served as an introduction to CSI for many architects, engineers, and product representatives throughout his almost 35 years of membership. Alan’s honesty, integrity, and welcoming presence will be forever missed and remembered by his friends and colleagues at CSI.
 
Alan was the beloved husband of Wendy Itzkowitz, nee Teichman; loving father of Laura Itzkowitz and Bryan (Paula Tinjacá Balaguera) Itzkowitz; adored grandfather of Mateo Itzkowitz Balaguera; devoted son of the late Ralph and the late Lillian Itzkowitz; cherished brother of Barry (Denise) Itzkowitz; dear brother-in-law of Debby (Michael) Horn and Dan (Stephenie) Teichman; and will also be missed by many cousins, nibblings, grandnibblings, and wonderful friends.


Click here to view the photos of Alan at CSI events over the years.
ALAN'S CSI ACTIVITIES
CSI Membership

Chicago Chapter, 1987-2021
Northern Illinois Chapter, 1990-2021

CSI Awards

Institute
  • Honorable Mention, specifications competition, 1995, 1996
  • President's Plaque, 2015
  • Elevated to Fellow, 2016

Chicago Chapter
  • Chapter Fellow Award, 2021
  • Award of Excellence, 2015
  • The Sasquatch Award, 2014
  • Technical Award, 2013

Northern Illinois Chapter
  • Dick Dashner Memorial Award for Service, 2001 


Institute Offices, Committees 

Certification Maintenance Group, FY2014 - FY2020
Institute Director for the North Central Region, FY2018-FY2019
Chapter Offices, Committees

Chicago Chapter
Board Positions:
  • Director, FY1991-FY1992, FY2014-FY2016
Committee Positions:
  • CDT Class Instructor, FY2011-FY2013, FY2021
  • Certification Committee Chair, FY2011-FY2014
  • Certification Committee Member, FY1993-FY2010, FY2019, FY2021
  • CSi2eye Committee Member, FY2014-FY2021
  • Technical Roundtable Committee Member, FY2016

Northern Illinois Chapter
Board Positions:
  • Director, FY1992-FY1995
  • President Elect, FY1998
  • President, FY1999
  • Secretary, FY1996-FY1997, FY2001
  • Treasurer, FY2012-FY2016
Committee Positions:
  • Academic Liaison, FY1999
  • CDT Class Instructor, FY1999-FY2004
  • Certification Committee Member, FY1999-FY2004
  • Electronic Communications Chair, FY1997-FY2001
  • Newsletter Editor, FY2000-FY2001
  • Planning Chair, FY1999
  • Product Show Chair, FY1999
  • Professional Development Chair, FY1999
  • Technical Chair, FY1997, FY1999