Gary C. Comer, Lands' End founder, died on October 4 at The University of Chicago Hospital. In 1962, he started a mail-order sailing equipment business. In 1963, Comer and five partners incorporated Lands' End Yacht Stores in a rent-free basement office on Chicago's north side. The misplaced apostrophe was a typo that became part of the firm's history. By 1965, they had begun to make a small profit and they printed their first catalogue, which became an industry legend.

Perhaps best known among their many philanthropic contributions are to the University of Chicago and its hospitals. In 2001, they donated $21 million to help build the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, a gift that matched the largest donation ever presented to the University of Chicago Hospitals. While he stepped down as president in 1990, Comer remained chairman of the board and the majority stockholder until Lands' End was sold to Sears in May 2002.

Gary C. Comer, Lands' End founder, died on October 4 at The University of Chicago Hospital. In 1962, he started a mail-order sailing equipment business. In 1963, Comer and five partners incorporated Lands' End Yacht Stores in a rent-free basement office on Chicago's north side. The misplaced apostrophe was a typo that became part of the firm's history. By 1965, they had begun to make a small profit and they printed their first catalogue, which became an industry legend.

Perhaps best known among their many philanthropic contributions are to the University of Chicago and its hospitals. In 2001, they donated $21 million to help build the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, a gift that matched the largest donation ever presented to the University of Chicago Hospitals. While he stepped down as president in 1990, Comer remained chairman of the board and the majority stockholder until Lands' End was sold to Sears in May 2002.