Chicago Area

John D. Norcross passed away on November 9, 2014, in Chicago.

John spent his final days surrounded by the love of his closest friends, pastor, and wife. His last afternoon was filled with harmony and joy as musicians from Sharing Notes played works by Strauss and Brahms, his favorite composers. He passed away peacefully that evening in his sleep.

The dearly beloved husband of Joanna Elin Petroff Norcross, John was also the loving brother of Mary Jane (late John C. Rainey) Norcross, the late Peter Christopher Norcross and the late Richard David Norcross; and the cherished uncle of Cynthia (Jeffrey) Penney and Ginger (T.J. McCall) Tougas.

John was a lifelong resident of Chicago, a city he loved. He was born to Dr. John R. Norcross and Louise M. Ballschmider Norcross. After attending Loyola Academy he majored in economics at Stanford University. A graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law, he was a Founding Partner in the law firm Crane and Norcross. John lived with his wife in the Gold Coast neighborhood, where he co-founded Gibsons Restaurant Group and took a great interest in the original steakhouse, now in its 25th year. Well-known for his investing skills, John began each morning trading for himself, family and friends. John was a man of great faith and devotion to the Catholic Church, a sportsman, traveler, and supporter of the performing arts.

John “Jack” Thomas Keleher - devoted husband, loving father, adoring grandfather, dear brother, uncle, cousin; friend of the less fortunate and oppressed; lover of nature, poetry, and history; compassionate, kind and gentle soul - passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 13, 2014.

Jack was born on October 29, 1923, the son of Irish immigrants Elizabeth J. Sampey and Patrick J. Keleher. He grew up in Chicago and was the oldest of three brothers, Francis, James (Joan), and Patrick (Joan), who predeceased him, and one sister who survives him, Sr. Jean Keleher, CSC. Jack was married to the love of his life, Dorothy Agnes Catalano, for 67 years. They met when both were members of a Catholic youth group focusing on social justice. They married on May 24, 1947, at St. Giles Church in Oak Park.

Jack went to Our Lady Help of Christians grammar school and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He served as an officer in the Navy during WWII after training at Notre Dame and Harvard. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 1947 and Loyola Law School in 1951. He was a law professor at Loyola and Kent law schools, practiced law for 26 years, and served as a circuit court judge of Cook County for the last 16 years of his career. He helped establish and implement the Mandatory Arbitration Program in the Circuit Court of Cook County, and became its first supervisory judge in 1990.

Ronald N. Primack has joined Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. as Of Counsel. Primack concentrates his practice in Banking; Corporate Transactions & Business Law; Employment; Estate Planning & Asset Protection; Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1978 and received his JD from DePaul University College of Law in 1981. He was previously employed at the Law Offices of Ronald N. Primack, L.L.C.

Frederick Charles Niemi, 76, died in his home Friday, November 7, 2014. Born on October 10, 1938, in Chicago IL, Fred was raised in Berwyn, IL and attended Morton High School where he played trumpet in the jazz band. Fred graduated with a history degree from the University of Illinois Champaign and later from the Chicago Kent College of Law. Fred operated a private law practice in Riverside, IL for over 40 years.

A dedicated steward of his Finnish heritage, Fred served as the Honorary Consul of Finland for 34 years, spanning from 1974 to 2008. During his tenure as the Honorary Finnish Consul, his many years of service and dedication were recognized and he was awarded the decoration of the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland. This designation is awarded for civilian and military merit. Fred's strong sense of civic duty was also exemplified by his involvement in local community charities and organizations. Fred served on the boards of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce and the former Suomi College (now Finlandia University) and was a member of the Nordic Law Club.

His strong desire to help others also led to board positions with the Fillmore Center for Mental Health and the Berwyn Kiwanis Club. Fred was an avid reader of history, an outdoorsman, a lover of music-notably Sibelius, Mahler, Stan Kenton, Coleman Hawkins, and Puccini, and a frequent traveler with journeys that took him to Finland, Russia, China, Sweden, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, the British Isles and Italy.