Josephine Louis, British-themed gift store owner and Northwestern benefactor, dies at 95

The longtime Winnetka resident and U.S. ambassador's wife discovered and led Eximious, a specialty gift catalog and retail store, for 25 years.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Josephine Louis, a major benefactor of Northwestern University who owned and ran the specialty gift catalog and retail store Eximious for a quarter century, has died at the age of 95. Louis, the wife of the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. in the early 1980s, discovered Eximious while living in London and later took over the business, moving its operations to Chicago and expanding it. She was known for her generosity, graciousness, and passion for the store, which connected consumers with rare treasures from the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Why it matters

Josephine Louis' life and business exemplify the enduring appeal of British-themed luxury goods and the ability of a mission-driven, community-focused retailer to thrive even as the retail landscape has shifted. Her philanthropic support for Northwestern University also highlights the important role that individual donors can play in shaping the future of higher education.

The details

Louis discovered Eximious, a specialty gift store and catalog house in London's Belgravia area, while serving as the wife of the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. in the early 1980s. After returning to the U.S., she took over the entire business, becoming its chairman and CEO. Louis initially marketed Eximious' items via catalog, moving the operation from London to Chicago in 1984 and then opening the first U.S. retail store in Winnetka's Hubbard Woods area in 1985. Under Louis' leadership, Eximious grew to include a shop on Oak Street in downtown Chicago and an outlet in Northfield. The store offered a range of British-themed products, from monogrammed leather goods to decorative pillows and hand-painted enamel boxes. Louis would attend trade shows and travel with employees to source new items, and she also 'invented' some products herself by dreaming up ideas and having manufacturers create them. Louis wound down the Eximious business in 2009.

  • In 1981, Louis' husband was tapped to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the U.K.
  • Louis moved with her husband to the ambassador's residence in London for the next two years.
  • In 1983, after her husband's time as ambassador had concluded, Louis returned stateside and took over the entire Eximious business.
  • In 1984, Louis moved the Eximious catalog operation from London to Chicago.
  • In 1985, Louis moved the Eximious operation to a warehouse and office in Winnetka's Hubbard Woods area and opened the first U.S. retail store at the warehouse within a week.
  • Louis wound down the Eximious business in 2009.

The players

Josephine Louis

The owner and CEO of Eximious, a specialty gift catalog and retail store, and a major benefactor of Northwestern University.

John J. Louis Jr.

Josephine Louis' husband, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. in the early 1980s.

Beverly Lang

A longtime friend and colleague of Josephine Louis at Eximious.

Jeffry Louis

Josephine Louis' son.

Kimberly Stewart

Josephine Louis' daughter.

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What they’re saying

“'Jo was serious, passionate and completely devoted to Eximious. She chose product for her customers of Eximious as though they were her family. In that same vein, she treated her employees with respect, kindness and understanding.'”

— Beverly Lang, longtime friend and Eximious colleague (Chicago Tribune)

“'Mom started in the basement of their house and sent out a small number of catalogs at the beginning, and the business eventually got bigger and bigger, and she had a shop on Oak Street downtown, a shop at Hubbard Woods in Winnetka and an outlet at a warehouse in Northfield.'”

— Jeffry Louis, Josephine Louis' son (Chicago Tribune)

“'Mom loved Eximious. It kept her at least as busy as the embassy work — if not busier. I had a few very happy years helping to produce her catalogs. It was a fun job as all of the photography was done in and around London.'”

— Tracy Merrill, Josephine Louis' daughter (Chicago Tribune)

“'Jo's love of the (Chicago Botanic) Garden went well beyond an appreciation for its beautiful landscapes. She had deep curiosity about our plant conservation science work, always wanting to know more about rare plant conservation, plant genetics and prescribed burns in restoration areas. She also knew that time spent in gardens and green space had huge mental and physical health benefits and she was an early champion for our work in this space. 'Remember accessibility,' she would often remind us.'”

— Jean Franczyk, Chicago Botanic Garden CEO and President (Chicago Tribune)

“'She was so positive about everything. There was no limit to her generosity of spirit. And she was just the hostess supreme. When she hosted, she treated all of us like she would have treated the queen of England. She saw everyone's needs quietly without anyone knowing.'”

— Virginia 'Ginny' Adams, longtime friend and fellow bridge player (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

A celebration of life is being planned for Josephine Louis in Florida.

The takeaway

Josephine Louis' life and business legacy demonstrate the enduring appeal of British-themed luxury goods, the power of mission-driven and community-focused retail, and the important role that individual philanthropists can play in shaping the future of higher education institutions like Northwestern University.