In Memoriam: Franc Tivadar
August 13, 1947 – September 2, 2026
Franc Tivadar, founder of EDE Corporation and a longtime figure in Chicago’s exhibit industry, died September 2, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was 79.
Born in Velika Polana, Slovenia, Tivadar learned the craft that would eventually become the foundation of his career at an early age. After primary school, he completed an apprenticeship in cabinetry before moving to Germany in 1967 to further master the trade.
Tivadar first visited the United States in 1972 and returned in 1974 to make Chicago his home, where he was taken in by his aunt, Maria Petek. He learned English and soon became an important part of one of Chicago’s largest exhibit firms.
In 1979, Tivadar took the step that would define his professional life. He began building museum exhibitions for clients out of his garage in Cicero, Illinois, and founded EDE Corporation.
EDE’s own company history traces its founding to August 1979 and describes Tivadar as a carpenter whose attention to detail and craftsmanship helped secure the company’s first commercial client, the Field Museum. What began as a one-person shop eventually grew into a company with more than 140,000 square feet of space.
Over the following decades, EDE expanded its work across tradeshow and museum exhibits, architectural installations and other custom environments. Tivadar spent more than 40 years producing exhibitions for museums and companies around the world while hiring, training and mentoring hundreds of employees.
Those qualities were remembered by colleagues following his death.
“Franc was a quiet giant in the tradeshow business,” Christopher Kappes said. “He never compromised quality and the company is stronger today because of this commitment.”
Kappes also pointed to the continuation of the family business, saying Franc’s son Greg is carrying on the family legacy. Greg Tivadar now serves as EDE’s president and creative director.
Bill Grant, president and chief creative officer of Grant Design Collaborative, remembered Tivadar as a partner who was willing to take on ambitious ideas.
“He never hesitated to tackle our wacky ideas, and he and the team always delivered to exceed our expectations,” Grant said, calling Tivadar “a legend.”
Tivadar is survived by his wife, Zvonka; his sons, Greg (Jill) and Rob (Jessica); and seven grandchildren.
A memorial visitation was held Thursday, September 17, at Zarzycki Manor Chapels in Willow Springs, Illinois. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Slovenian Catholic Mission in Lemont, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Mary’s Slovenian Catholic Mission.
From an apprenticeship in cabinetry in Slovenia to a garage in Cicero and more than four decades building EDE, Franc Tivadar left his mark on the exhibit industry through his craftsmanship, the company he created and the generations of people he trained and mentored.
