Chicago advertising has lost a true artist. Eugene “Gene” Mandarino, a longtime creative director at Leo Burnett whose work touched audiences with warmth, humor and emotional honesty, passed away peacefully in hospice care on June 26, 2026. He was 94.
Mandarino was born on June 22, 1932, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Vincenzo and Rose Mandarino, both Italian immigrants. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1950 and married Ann Watts of Benton Harbor on September 5, 1953. The couple moved to Palatine, Illinois, in 1962, where they raised six children.
Ann, his beloved wife of 55 years, died in 2008. Her passing devastated him, and he believed he would never find love again. Four years later, Nancy Tempelmann entered his life and has stood by him for the past 14 years.
At Leo, Mandarino built a reputation as a creative force with a rare combination of craft, heart and imagination. Over many years at the agency, he created advertising for major clients including McDonald’s, Hallmark, United and Kellogg’s. His work was recognized at major competitions including the Clios and the Cannes Film Festival.
Those who worked with him remember not only the awards but also his presence. The wild hair, the smile, the quirky humor, the uninhibited laugh and the relentless pursuit of a bigger idea made him larger than life inside the agency.
“Leo Burnett lost a true artist last week,” wrote one former colleague. “Gene Mandarino was one of a kind. His talent, imagination, energy for big ideas, and pursuit of great work were legendary. He made a career out of touching people’s emotions with tenderness and genuine warmth.”
For young creatives, Mandarino was the kind of mentor who changed the trajectory of a career. One colleague recalled beginning work for him at 21 and not knowing quite what to make of him at first.
“That smile, wild hair, quirky sense of humor, and uninhibited laugh made him a larger-than-life presence,” the tribute continued. “It seemed like either insanity or brilliance. I came to learn by watching and listening; it was the latter. I learned so much from this man.”
Over time, that former young creative became his partner at Burnett, a testament to the relationships Mandarino built and the generosity he brought to the work. His impact extended beyond campaigns and conference rooms into families and friendships that lasted long after agency life.
Mandarino’s artistry was not confined to advertising. Beyond a trophy case filled with Lions, Pencils and Clios, he leaves behind a collection of original artwork that he continued to create with care and joy. Some of that work can be seen at his daughter Maria’s restaurant, The Green Room in Libertyville.
Friends and family remember a man who embraced life fully. He loved deeply, laughed loudly and remained connected to the people who mattered to him. Just days before a series of small strokes and pneumonia took him, he was able to speak with loved ones on his birthday.
“I know Gene would say he was a very lucky man,” one tribute noted. “He was 94. ‘Not bad,’ I can hear him say.”
Mandarino is remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, partner, artist, mentor and one of the Chicago advertising community’s great creative spirits.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with an hour for Gene stories beginning at 3 p.m. Services and interment will continue in Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be considered in Gene’s memory to Doctors Without Borders. For more information, visit smithcorcoran.com or call 847-359-8020.
Rest in Power, Gene.
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