CDFA Spotlight: Stan Provus – Visionary Friend, Colleague and Mentor of CDFA – Passes Away at 63

It is with much sadness that I must pass along the news that our good friend and colleague Stan Provus has passed away. Stanley O. Provus, 63, lost his battle with cancer May 7, 2009. He was born February 19, 1946, in Chicago, IL to Bertram B. and Dorothy M. (nee Beris) Provus who pre-deceased him.

I was privileged to know and work with Stan, both in the activities of CDFA and in other organizations. He made significant contributions to the success of many of the Oregon efforts while I managed the Business Finance group at the Economic Development Department. He was the "brains" behind the development of Oregon Credit Enhancement Fund and worked to better the entrepreneurial community in Oregon with many other efforts. The results were hundreds of businesses financed and thousands of jobs.

Stan was the impetus to launch CDFA's Training Institute. When the organization had little extra to invest in new endeavors, Stan worked to develop the initial Industrial Development Bond Primer and remained the Institute's primary instructor and facilitator as the program grew and flourished. With Stan's work and vision, CDFA now has a training agenda that is nationally recognized.

Stan made many other contributions throughout his career, touched lives and made a positive impact in many States and regions. He completed in excess of $2 billion of tax-exempt financings alone and advised many states on the development of new programs. Over three thousand professionals have attended CDFA bond finance courses developed by Stan.

After graduating from George Washington University he joined the Peace Corps and served in Ethiopia from 1968-1973. Throughout all of his accomplishments, Stan was justifiably proud of the contribution he made in his early work in the Peace Corps. Stan worked in Ethiopia building manufacturing facilities that employed the native population in making leather goods and the "tie-dye" t-shirts of the 60's. He met and worked directly with King Haile Selassie - which is, what Stan would say, "pretty cool."

Stan assumed many roles during his professional career. After the Peace Corps he served as Chief Planner for City of Chicago Model Cities; Director of Housing Operations for Washington State in Olympia, Washington; Program Analyst at HUD in Washington, DC; Director for Maine State Housing Authority; CEO for Finance Authority of Maine; and Oklahoma State Bond Advisor. He established Stanley Provus & Associates, Inc. in 1993 to provide consulting and financial advisory services to businesses and organizations.

Stan was a natural at sports and gained expertise in gymnastics (taught gymnastics at GWU while a student), baseball, skiing, and tennis. He loved animals, especially dogs, all his life and found joy in his golden retriever Abby the past three years. Art was a life-long passion beginning with art lessons at the Chicago Institute beginning at age 7, continuing with 3 months in Italy as a teen-ager, and favoring the medium of oil based pastels for his final works.

He is survived by his wife Kay, brother Wayne Provus and wife Gerri of Highland Park, IL, brother Dr. Richard Provus and wife Debra of Deerfield, IL, and nephews Jon Provus, Cory Provus, Jason Provus, niece Lauren Marks and great-nephews.

Services were held at Weinstein Chapel, Wilmette, IL, on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dept. of Otolaryngology, 4301 W. Markham #543, Little Rock, AR 72205, or the charity of your choice.

You may send your respects to Kay Provus at:

2035 Marion Anderson Rd.
Hot Spring, AR 71913
kprovus@sbcglobal.net

I know we will all miss Stan, with his wisdom and sense of humor.

Mark Huston
Board Member
Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA)