H. Doug Christiansen  1940 - 2016

Henry Douglas Christiansen launched his recruiting company from the dining room table of his La Grange home, but his ambitions were far from modest, his family said.

Founded in 1973 to help place chemists, Westchester-based CPS Inc. grew into one of the largest private recruiting firms in the nation, employing more than 2,000 local residents over the years and placing more than 30,000 people in permanent positions.

"He developed close relationships with so many of our employees over the years," said his son, John, who began working full time for his father in 2002 and now helps run the agency. "He was genuinely interested in them as human beings, and I don't think that's something most people are used to."

Christiansen, 75, died Jan. 6 of primary amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by a bone marrow disorder, at his home in La Grange, his family said.

"Doug had an inside-out way of doing business," said Bill Carr, who worked for CPS Inc. from 1976 to 1989 before founding his own firm, York Solutions, in Westchester. "He believed that if you hire good people, and treat them right, then the rest takes care of itself. It's a philosophy I've adopted for my own company."

Christiansen, who went by his middle name, Doug, created a program called Operation Homefront, through which the company gave gifts to the family members of employees to thank them for their support. The company also created a game room and lounge for employees in the 1970s, provided subscriptions to Highlights magazine to their school-age children and each year gave Thanksgiving turkeys to everyone on staff.

"He saw the beauty in everyone and wanted everyone he met to feel good about themselves," said his daughter, Amy Christiansen Si-Ahmed. "He'd often end phone conversations by giving someone a compliment, and then hang up soon after so they wouldn't deflect the compliment, but simply absorb the meaning and impact of the words and continue their day with a lifted spirit."

Born and raised in the South Side neighborhood of Roseland, Christiansen graduated from Fenger High School in 1958 and enlisted in the Army, serving two tours of duty in Germany.

He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in business. He met and married his former wife, Jill Christiansen, a fellow student, and when they graduated, they packed their belongings into a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle and drove back to the South Side.

He worked for several years at his cousin's recruiting company, learning the trade, before starting his own company. As CPS Inc. grew, he encouraged free discourse.

"Some of my best memories of him were of when we'd have differing points of view," Carr said. "He loved the back and forth and was so engaging. In fact, sometimes I'd play devil's advocate just to keep the conversation going."

Credited with helping his company weather economic downturns and several recessions, Christiansen was the perennial optimist who always saw the silver lining in everything, colleagues said.

"It may look bleak and feel bleak, but as soon as credit starts to flow, it will turn around," he told the Chicago Tribune in 2009, at a time when his firm was still making hires when others were slashing jobs.

At age 43, Christiansen was diagnosed with primary amyloidosis — also known as AL and generally associated with a short life expectancy — and was given a year to live.

"He lived the next 33 years battling AL, numerous bouts with cancer, congestive heart failure, life-threatening diverticulitis, kidney failure that led to a transplant and multiple complications, and all with an upbeat and optimistic attitude," Si-Ahmed said. "He was a true soldier who was determined to fight those illnesses."

Although he never retired, Christiansen pulled back from the day-to-day management of his company during the past year but kept in touch with his employees, often through handwritten notes.

"He taught me just about everything I know about this industry," said Dave Schueneman, a senior partner with CPS Inc. "But what I admired most was the man himself. He built so many relationships. He enriched so many lives."

In addition to his two children and former wife, Christiansen is survived by a sister, Lynn Knez, and two grandchildren.

Services were held.

H. Doug Christiansen  1940 - 2016

Henry Douglas Christiansen, 75, of La Grange died on January 7, 2016. He was an adoring and devoted father of Amy Christiansen Si-Ahmed (Karim) and John Christiansen; proud grandfather of Aden and Zade; cherished brother of Lynn Knez (Jim); loving Uncle of 3 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews; dear and treasured friend to many.

Doug founded CPS Inc. in 1973 and served as President for 42 years. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Gift of Hope Foundation Organ and Tissue Donor Network very much appreciated. www.giftofhope.org. Hallowell & James Funeral Home in Countryside is assisting the family.