Joseph Cari Jr.

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Joseph Cari
Born
CitizenshipUnited States and Italy
Education Fellowship at Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Alma mater University of Notre Dame (BA, JD)
OccupationMerchant banker
ChildrenNicole Elizabeth Cari
Website www.joecari.com

Joseph A. Cari Jr. is an American merchant banker, public policy consultant, and philanthropist. He has served in leadership roles with U.S. policy institutions and has been active in international finance and healthcare investment. [1]

Contents

Early life

Cari, an Italian American, was raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Dr. Joseph and Elaine Cari, and has three siblings. His father was a physician and surgeon who chaired the Department of Family Medicine at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Chicago and also served as Chief Medical Officer for the Chicago Fire Department. [2]

Cari graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. degree in sociology. As an undergraduate, he played on the varsity baseball team [3] and was president of Fisher Hall. In 1978, he earned a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School. [4] He later completed a fellowship at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. [5]

Career

In 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton appointed Cari as chairman of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. [1] During his tenure, he worked on policy programming and supported bipartisan participation in the Center’s initiatives.

Cari has been associated with the World Policy Institute and has participated in meetings of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. [6] His commentary on foreign policy has appeared in publications including the Financial Times , Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Sun-Times. [7]

In business, Cari has worked in healthcare and clean energy finance. He has served on the board of Westlake New Energy Group in Europe and on advisory boards for financial and technology ventures in London and Washington, D.C. [8]

Federal plea agreement

In 2005, Cari entered into a plea agreement in a case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago under 18 U.S.C § 1951. [9] In April 2013, the Court, with agreement from prosecutors, commuted his sentence. [10]

Personal life

Cari married Rita Bahr, a corporate lawyer who specialized in mergers and acquisitions for Motorola Corporation. She died in 2002. [11] They had one daughter, Nicole.

References

  1. 1 2 Seelye, Katharine Q. (May 5, 1999). "Clinton Names New Wilson Center Chairman". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  2. Cari, Joseph Sr. (1975). The Delivery of Emergency Care. Medical Press.
  3. "Varsity Baseball Reference". ND.edu. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
  4. "Notre Dame Law Degree Reference". ND.edu. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007.
  5. "JFK School of Government Reference". Harvard.edu. Archived from the original on May 26, 2006.
  6. "World Economic Forum Participant List 2002". World Economic Forum. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  7. Cari, Joseph A. (March 12, 2001). "Op-Ed: U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges". Financial Times. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  8. "Westlake New Energy Group Appoints Joseph A. Cari Jr. to Board" (Press release). PR Newswire. October 15, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  9. "Jeopardy". Chicago Magazine. December 2005.
  10. Fusco, Chris (August 9, 2011). "Ex-Democratic fund-raiser gets 3 years probation". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  11. "Obituary: Rita Bahr Cari". Chicago Tribune. October 2, 2002. Retrieved August 27, 2025.