HOLY COW! LOOK AT THESE TOP 25 HIGHEST ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT PENSIONS

KEVIN HOFFMAN 
JUL 2, 2014
Reboot Illinois

Taxpayers United of America released a list of the top 200 Illinois government pensions – and, let’s just say they’re probably enjoying retirement, if they’re even actually retired.

You’ll notice many of the pensioners are/were employed by the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Medicine. Last year, the Better Government Association found that a handful UIC employees retired, began collecting their pensions, and then were rehired after waiting the required 60 days in order to work part-time for a smaller salary.

Similar to the Naperville police chief who “double dips” — collects a pension on top of a taxpayer-funded salary —  nine UIC College of Medicine employees on this list are receiving pension payouts along with salaries.

Here’s a list of 25 people with the highest pensions in the state as of April 1, 2014.

(*Assumes Life Expectancy of 85 and 3% COLA compounded annually.)

1. Tapas K. Das Gupta

• Title: Professor/Head of Department of Surgical Oncology, Chief of Service (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D. / Ph.D.
• Annual Pension: $452,843
• Employee Contributions: $475,331
• Age at Retirement: 72
• Pension Paid to Date: $3,876,691
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5,276,384
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 9.0%

2. Edward Abraham

• Title: Orthopedic Surgeon (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $439,965
• Employee Contributions: $535,165
• Age at Retirement: 66
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,829,593
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9,073,587
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 5.9%

3. Mahmood Mafee

• Title: Clinical Professor of Radiology (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $392,682
• Employee Contributions: $562,570
• Age at Retirement: 64
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,708,810
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8,841,639
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 6.4%

4. Herand Abcarian

• Title: Professor of Surgery / Division of Colorectal Surgery (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $359,360
• Employee Contributions: $628,987
• Age at Retirement: 67
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,791,316
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6,891,360
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 9.1%

5. Ronald Albrecht

• Title: Associate Professor of Anesthesiology; Chief, Anesthesiology Service, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $358,002
• Employee Contributions: $462,077
• Age at Retirement: 70
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,254,661
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5,438,136
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 8.5%

6. James Ausman

• Title: Chairman of the Neuropsychiatric Institute (1991-2001)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $328,767
• Employee Contributions:  $418,471
• Age at Retirement: 70
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,868,250
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5,208,225
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 8.0%

7. Jacob Wilensky

• Title: Professor of Ophthalmology (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $306,456
• Employee Contributions: $410,791
• Age at Retirement: 62
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,565,764
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7,351,922
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 5.6%

8. Phillip Forman

• Title: Professor Emeritus of Health Policy & Administration (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $298,740
• Employee Contributions: $376,541
• Age at Retirement: 67
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,987,430
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4,919,800
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 7.7%

9. Joel Sugar

• Title: Professor of Ophthalmology; Cornea Service Vice Chair; Clinical Operations (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $290,789
• Employee Contributions: $446,643
• Age at Retirement: 59
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,488,810
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8,350,201
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 5.3%

10. Lawrence A. Wyllie

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Lincoln-Way High School District 210
• Qualifications: Ed.D.
• Annual Pension: $289,861
• Employee Contributions: $398,488
• Age at Retirement: 75 (Retired June 30, 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $219,006
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3,163,732
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 12.6%

11. Edward A. Andersen

• Title: President & CEO
• Employer: CGH Medical-Sterling
• Qualifications: BA/MBA
• Annual Pension: $289,626
• Employee Contributions: $312,570
• Age at Retirement: N/A (Retired Jan. 4, 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $309,750
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: N/A
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 0.0%

12. Henry S. Bangser

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: New Trier TWP HSD 203
• Qualifications: Ed.D
• Annual Pension: $285,945
• Employee Contributions: $275,366
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired July 2006)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,917,706
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9,601,168
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.9%

13. Gary T. Catalani

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Community Unit SD 200
• Qualifications: Ed.D
• Annual Pension: $284,674
• Employee Contributions: $289,151
• Age at Retirement: 56 (Retired June 30, 2011)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,652,783
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10,345,806
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.8%

14. Craig Bazzani

• Title: Vice President for Business Affairs
• Employer: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Qualifications: N/A
• Annual Pension: $281,767
• Employee Contributions: $298,686
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired 2002, but under a pension formula intended for police officers and firefighters)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,834,047
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9,431,462
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.2%

15. Laura L. Murray

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233
• Qualifications: Ed.D
• Annual Pension: $280,070
• Employee Contributions: $298,591
• Age at Retirement: 57
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,442,008
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9,994,442
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

16. George R. Honig

• Title: Professor Emeritus Department of Pediatrics (Current)
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D. / Ph.D.
• Annual Pension: $279,628
• Employee Contributions: $401,027
• Age at Retirement: 67
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,478,490
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4,965,034
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 8.1%

17. Joel Milner

• Title: Professor Emeritus Psychology
• Employer: Northern Illinois University
• Qualifications: Ph.D.
• Annual Pension: $277,316
• Employee Contributions: $429,142
• Age at Retirement: 63
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,746,505
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6,904,273
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 6.2%

18. Mary M. Curley

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Hinsdale CCSD 181
• Qualifications: Ed.D
• Annual Pension: $272,012
• Employee Contributions: $248,708
• Age at Retirement: 55
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,579,270
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10,406,837
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.4%

19. John Roland Folse

• Title: Head of Department of Surgery
• Employer: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale College of Medicine
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $271,556
• Employee Contributions: $288,201
• Age at Retirement: 67
• Pension Paid to Date: $3,128,842
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4,264,931
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 6.8%

20. James J. Schuler

• Title: Surgeon in Division of Vascular Surgery
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $269,615
• Employee Contributions: $564,913
• Age at Retirement: 59
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,104,504
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7,971,747
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 7.1%

21. Gerald S. Moss

• Title: Dean of UIC College of Medicine
• Employer: University of Illinois-Chicago
• Qualifications: M.D.
• Annual Pension: $266,394
• Employee Contributions: $475,674
• Age at Retirement: 70 (Retired 2004)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2,028,208
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3,751,356
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 12.7%

22. Nick Holonyak, Jr.

• Title: Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Invented LED lighting)
• Employer: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Qualifications: Ph.D.
• Annual Pension: $266,257
• Employee Contributions: $125,718
• Age at Retirement: 84
• Pension Paid to Date: $198,358
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $198,358
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 63.4%

23. Reginald L. Weaver

• Title: President (Current)
• Employer: National Education Association
• Qualifications: N/A
• Annual Pension: $265,158
• Employee Contributions: $264,894
• Age at Retirement: 69
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,355,105
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4,394,843
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 6.0%

24. Maureen L. Hager

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: North Shore SD 112
• Qualifications: Ed.D.
• Annual Pension: $263,741
• Employee Contributions: $277,774
• Age at Retirement: 58
• Pension Paid to Date: $1,132,953
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9,186,752
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

25. Jonathan E. Lamberson

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Riverside SD 96
• Qualifications: Ed.D.
• Annual Pension: $262,516
• Employee Contributions: $370,166
• Age at Retirement: 58
• Pension Paid to Date: $218,764
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10,339,571
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.6%

Next article: Why we need to commit again to redistricting reform

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