John Weinberger Obituary
Naperville, IL, and Austin, TX
1932 - 2020
John F. Weinberger of Naperville, Illinois, and Austin, Texas, peacefully passed away September 12th, 2020 at his home in Austin at the age of 88. John was born in Illinois on April 18, 1932, in the backseat of a Chevy, setting the stage for his lifelong passion for cars. John was the consummate car, racing, and driving fanatic with a special aura felt by all who knew him.
John’s car passion also charted the course of his career path. He progressed from his humble beginnings as an apprentice garage mechanic to becoming the founder and CEO of one of the largest privately held companies in the Chicagoland .and area and one of the Top 150 dealership groups in the nation. The dealerships are located in the western suburbs of Chicagoland, employing over 700 people, many of whom have worked for the Continental Motors Group for over half of their lives.
John and his younger brother Herm were partners for over 50 years. Together, they also worked for the A.M. Zelke Nash dealership in Berwyn, IL, before establishing Continental Motors in 1962 to specialize in the sales and service of imported cars. In the early days, John specialized in sales and service operations while his brother Herm focused on parts and body shop at their shop in Lyons, IL. The brothers’ stellar reputation among Chicagoland foreign car enthusiasts came to the attention of Triumph Motor Cars. As a result, they became an authorized Triumph dealer. Within a short time, they were also representing Jaguar, MG, and Toyota. The rapid business growth dictated a move, and John identified Countryside, IL, as a great place to establish a new dealership facility. Other notable franchises added in the '70s and early '80s were Honda, Datsun (now Nissan), and Ferrari.
John was also very dedicated to the retail automobile industry, served several terms as a respected board member of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the Illinois Automobile Trade Association (IADA), and the American Import Auto Dealers Association (AIADA).
According to his son Jay, “I didn’t have to look further than my father to find a mentor." John was the ideal mentor for both of his sons, Jay and Joel. Each of them successfully operates the dealership group and their cousin, Cheryl Nelson (Herm’s daughter).
John's youngest son Joel stated, "I feel so fortunate that my father and I could share our love of cars both on and off the racetrack. I am extra grateful for the automotive business legacy he founded and welcomed me into with open arms."
Eileen, a longtime Continental AutoSports employee, stated that “All of his employees share John’s love of Continental. He was a leader who truly cared about his people. He always leads by example. It was his respect for every one of us that made his team so strong. We were proud to know he had confidence in our abilities, which allowed him to enjoy well-deserved time off in Texas with his wife, Lisa. We love him; he will always have a special place in each of our hearts.”
As a young man, John enjoyed racing cars and earned numerous podium finishes during the 1960s while competing in SCCA events. He continued his winning ways later by racing vintage cars to the age of 84 with his wife Lisa and his son Joel. His racing success over the years led to his induction into the RRDC (Road Racers Drivers Club), where John joined an exclusive group of famous racecar drivers. He was also a past board member of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and an active member of various vintage racing clubs, including SVRA, VSCDA, and HSR.
Hugh Ruthven, a fellow vintage racer and owner of a business dedicated to the sports car enthusiast, has been a friend for more than 40 years. Together, they ran rallies, attended auctions and races, and just talked cars – from Formula One to their collections.
Hugh said, “John wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. A bunch of guys was standing around my Bandini Formula Junior, trying to bleed the brakes. John grabbed a wrench, and a few seconds later, he hopped in the car to test his handiwork. He easily moved from car guy to gregarious host, starting a monthly lunch bunch of guys more than 15 years ago. He purposely included men of various professions and political persuasions because he enjoyed the give-and-take of the conversations. John always looked at situations in a positive light, even finding a way to stay jovial after grueling chemotherapy. He was a great leader and human being. I will miss his insights, integrity, and companionship.” He also formed a lunch bunch in Austin, TX.
He met his wife Lisa at a tollbooth as both were driving down the Illinois Tollway. As a research/marketing specialist for a local firm, Lisa recognized him from a trade association magazine. John didn’t have the exact change that day, and she offered him the coins and her phone number. A few years later, they had their wedding ceremony at that same tollbooth in Oak Brook, IL. For over 30 years, they participated in many vintage car races, rallies, and auctions around the world. During that time, John demonstrated his skills as a savvy collector of rare and unusual vintage cars. According to Lisa, “we packed 100 years of living into the years we had together. He was the perfect soulmate of a husband who was adventurous, fun-loving, and passionate about cars. I do have faith that our lives are destiny. John had a full and purposeful life filled with legacy.”
John & Lisa dedicated much of their lives to social responsibility, which will continue through their private foundation. They initiated the Continental Motors Group “Driven to Care” car giveaway program. To date, the Continental dealerships have donated 72 refurbished cars to deserving individuals who triumphed over various challenges such as homelessness, substance abuse, and physical abuse. He also mentored and provided scholarships to graduating high school students interested in a career involving the preservation and restoration of vintage cars. He enjoyed meeting recipients face-to-face, and his heart always melted upon hearing their stories and learning how having a car or a career with cars transformed their lives. He also inspired his family dealership group to collectively donate to the construction of a new cancer institute at a local hospital.
Lucky to live a life he loved with people he adored, John has an abundance of beautiful family, friends, and employees who became extended family.
In addition to his loving wife Lisa, John is survived by previous wives Ramona (Lowy) and Joan Weinberger, sons Jay (Julie), Joel (Shannon), Bob (Linda) Forrest, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will especially be missed by his pooches Chica and Alie. He was preceded in death by his brothers Joseph L. (Weinberger) Kreft (Charles Smith), Herman G. Weinberger (Shirley), Ed Weinberger, and his parents John and Elisabeth Weinberger.
A special thanks to all his caregivers, MD Anderson, Texas Oncology & Amita Cancer Institute
who helped him live a quality life until he “crossed the finish line” You were an A+ “pit crew."
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to The Footprints Foundation, ℅ of Continental AutoSports, 420 E. Ogden Ave., Hinsdale, IL 60521. Footprints was founded by John and Lisa, the foundation funds high school graduates to further their education in vintage automotive preservation & restoration and technical training and supporting a variety of charities in both Illinois, Texas, and internationally.
Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Details at dignitymemorial.com and "The Victory Lap services" held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on September 21st at 4:00 p.m.
A private burial will take place in Hinsdale, IL, and a celebration of life will be at a later date.
To purchase John’s biographical book and memoir, please visit the following link: