Eugene Golub: Real-Estate Developer and Author

Thirty years ago, at age 64, through PSA testing, Eugene (Gene) Golub received a diagnosis of prostate

cancer. He consulted Dr. Catalona, who then worked at Washington University in St. Louis and successfully treated him. Years later, they reconnected at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He feels fortunate to have received excellent medical care that has allowed him to enjoy an active, productive life.
During a recent visit, Dr. Catalona asked this successful international real- estate developer what he was working on. Golub replied with a wry grin, “I’m working on developing my book, PROTOKOL, into a TV series.” Unaware that Golub had even written a book, Dr. Catalona asked about it. Golub replied that it is a historical fictional novel he published twenty- three years ago, based on his experiences as a real-estate developer in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia in the 1990s. When pressed to elaborate, Golub said, “I’ll send you a copy.” The next day, he sent the book and an accompanying script that Golub is developing into a television series.

The following information comes from the book jacket and overview of the pilot script of the TV series.
The novel PROTOKOL tells a story of Karol Josef Wojtyla who would later become Pope John Paul II and Mikhail Gorbachev that began in the late 1960s. Gorbachev, prior to his rise to power, was a young, ambitious Soviet official. Through intermediaries, the two men hoped and planned to rise to power and have influence on reshaping the world in which they lived. Gorbachev’s policy of perestroika led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, which in turn allowed for the liberation of millions of Catholics in Poland and the Soviet Bloc.

The proposed television series will portray a high-stakes thriller with hidden conspiracies and unlikely partnerships. The narrative intertwines the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of a ruthless Russian intelligence officer to the presidency.

This tale did indeed intrigue Dr. Catalona because of the information that he had received many years ago from his patient, baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial (of Polish descent). Musial had regaled him with stories of how he (Musial), Edward Pizek (wealthy founder of Mrs. Paul’s Fish Sticks and proud, passionate Polish humanitarian), and their famous friend, novelist, James Michener traveled together on clandestine missions behind the Iron Curtain to Poland, airlifting millions of pounds of food, medicine, and money to support the Polish resistance. During this time, they became close to (then) Bishop Karol Wojtyla, and, at least on one occasion, Mikhail Gorbachev was in the same city.

Eugene Golub grew up on Chicago’s West Side as the only child of immigrant parents. He obtained his real estate broker’s license and, with a partner, co-founded a real estate company. His first development was on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago; he built The Harbor House.

The business, founded in 1960, is an investment and real estate development company. In 1989, after the Berlin Wall came down, they were the first American Company to develop in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.

Golub and Company have recently led the redevelopment of the iconic Tribune Tower in Chicago into high-end condominiums, built the Bristol in West Palm Beach, Florida, and many other impressive real estate projects. For over 65 years, their expertise as owners, developers, and managers has built a Company involved in over 50 million square feet of multi-family, commercial, and mixed-use real

estate.

Golub is no longer involved in the Company’s day-to-day operations but continues as Chairman Emeritus and feels gratified to observe what his Company has accomplished.

The second-generation family members who have continued Golub’s business model of building, managing, and fostering relationships currently run the Company. The Company is carefully crafting the transition to the third-generation leadership, charging them with the Company’s geographic expansion.
A recipient of lifetime achievement awards in the U.S. and Europe, and after leading his international Company for decades, Gene has used his intelligence, imagination, drive, and unique view of the world to apply these talents and insights to other creative pursuits. By his admission, since he was first involved in real estate as a young man, he says with a smile that he is always thinking about the next deal.