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Obituaries

  • September 9, 2009 | People
    Alvin Rosenbloom 1919-2009
    Longtime ISBA member Alvin Rosenbloom passed away on Sept. 1 after practicing law for over 50 years. Alvin Rosenbloom was about loyalty and commitment -- to law, which he practiced for about 50 years, to his wife of nearly 60 years and to the men whose ships he rescued as a Navy captain in the Pacific during World War II. His courage earned him a Navy Cross and a Bronze Star, his son Barry said. Read the full Chicago Tribune story.
  • August 17, 2009 | People
    William Owen Mays, Sr. passes away
    William Owen Mays, Sr. died on August 6, 2009.  He was 88 years old and a graduate of The University of Michigan School of Law. He began his practice in Quincy in 1950 and practiced continuously since that time. At the time of his death, he was a partner in the law firm of Mays, Walden and Anastas.  He is survived by his son, William O. Mays, Jr., a Circuit Judge in Adams County. Read the full Quincy Herald Whig story here.
  • August 10, 2009 | People
    Hon. Alfred Burton Jr. passes away
    Judge Alfred Gene Burton Jr., 56, died Sunday, Aug. 2 following complications related to multiple myeloma. Judge Burton was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 as an administrative law judge for the federal Social Security Administration in Chicago. He remained in the job until his death and distinguished himself with relentless devotion to fair, impartial judgments and a scholarly approach to the law, said Judge Paul Lillios, regional chief administrative law judge for the Chicago region of the Social Security Administration. "He felt compassion for those who came before him, but at the same time always acted with the highest professionalism and did the right thing," Lillios said. Click here to read the full Tribune story.
  • August 5, 2009 | People
    Retired Judge Fred Suria Jr. 1927-2009
    Longtime Cook County Criminal Courts judge Fred Suria Jr. passed away on July 11. Mr. Suria, known to many as "Fair Fred," spent 44 years on the bench - most of those at the 26th and California courthouse. He was also the judge in the trial of U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, who was imprisoned for having sex with a minor. Click here to read the full Sun-Times story Click here to read the Daily Herald story
  • July 31, 2009 | People
    Darryl Pratscher passes away
    Darryl Pratscher, Clerk of the Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court, passed away following a short illness on July 24. Mr. Pratscher, 57, had served in the Fourth District since 1979 and as the Clerk of the Court since 1981. Services for Mr. Pratscher will be private.
  • July 24, 2009 | People
    John W. Cooley 1943-2009
    Arbitration and mediation expert John W. "Jack" Cooley, a former U.S. magistrate judge, passed away from multiple myeloma on July 21 at his home in Evanston. Mr. Cooley worked for two large private arbitration and mediation firms. He taught conflict resolution at Northwestern University's law school for the last 12 years and wrote several books, including "The Mediator's Handbook" and "The Arbitrator's Handbook." He later came to believe his cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during the war, and the government accepted his claim earlier this year, his daughter said. Raised in St. Louis, where his father was a barber, Mr. Cooley went to a private military academy before joining the Class of 1965 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He reached the rank of captain, but a tour of duty in Vietnam led him to law school. Click here to read the full Tribune story.
  • July 24, 2009 | People
    Evette Zells passes away
    Evette Zells, 71, passed away earlier this month. Ms. Zells graduated from Roosevelt University and earned a master's degree from Duke University. She received her law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law. Ms. Zells was a former educator, Illinois court child advocate and hearing officer for Cook County Juvenile Court. Click here to read the full Sun-Times story. Click here to read the Tribune story.
  • July 23, 2009 | People
    Christopher R. Heid 1950-2009
    Well-known Southern Illinois criminal defense attorney Chris Heid passed away earlier this month at his home in Enfield. Chris graduated from Springfield High School, Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University School of Law. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army JAG. Click here to read the full story.
  • July 23, 2009 | People
    Hon. Charles Covey 1933-2009
    Retired judge Charles Covey, 76, of Dunlap, passed away on July 19 in Peoria. Mr. Covey attended Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa., graduating in 1955. He then served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant until being honorably discharged. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1960. After law school, Mr. Covey founded the law firm of Covey and Litterst and also worked as a city attorney for Chillicothe and later served as a judge for Peoria County until he retired in 1995. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to the charity of the donor's choice. Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.mem.com.
  • July 20, 2009 | People
    Michael Morris passes away
    Former ISBA member Michael Earl Morris passed away earlier this month in Colorado Springs, Colo.  Mr. Morris was born in Peoria and graduated from Bradley University and Kent College of Law. From the Canton Daily Ledger: He began his career with the Illinois Bar Association, then worked as an attorney with the Fulton County Illinois Public Defender's Office. He also worked for Sebo Law Office. Mike's love of the mountains led him and his family to move to Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1982 where he was employed at the El Paso County District Attorney's Office from 1982-1986. He then entered private practice until he retired in June 2009. Click here to read the full story.