Stephen P. Carponelli "Steve," 64, died Thursday, March 1, 2012, at his home in Barrington Hills, Ill., after a courageous fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/"Lou Gehrig's Disease").

Born Dec. 11, 1947, in Chicago, to Peter J. and Diana M. Carponelli, he graduated from Forest View High School in Mount Prospect, Ill., in 1965. An athlete, he played baseball and football at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He graduated in 1969, earning a bachelor of science degree in marketing. He earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1972, graduating cum laude from The John Marshall School of Law, and was admitted to the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Illinois that same year.

Early in his career, Steve co-founded the law firm Carponelli & Krug with friend, Robert F. Krug Jr. Over the course of his 40-year career, Steve combined the teamwork and competitive drive gained from athletics with the business acumen he developed at Drake and the knowledge and advocacy learned at John Marshall to become a highly respected litigator. He was a multi-year member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Steve was nominated by his peers to the Leading Lawyers' Network, Super Lawyers, and the trial lawyer honorary society, Litigation Counsel of America. In addition to his winning trial work, he also argued cases before the Appellate Court of Illinois, the Supreme Court of Illinois, United States District Court, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Steve's broad interests, reflected in his legal expertise, ranged from commercial and corporate matters to family law, criminal law, personal injury and professional negligence. He was a lawyer's lawyer, and his proudest accomplishment was representing fellow attorneys in ethical matters before the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

He had a personality that "filled the room," whether that was the courtroom or his living room where he enjoyed spirited political and economic debate. To satisfy his intellectual appetite, his wife, Andrea, once gave him the full 20-volume set of the Oxford English Dictionary as a Christmas gift. He was active in his children's youth sports, including the Barrington Area Figure Skating Club, as well as baseball, football and youth hockey programs. He was a member of the Barrington Hills County Club, where he served on its Board of Directors.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Andrea Carponelli of Barrington Hills, Ill.; his children, Lisa (Michael) Lovell of Des Moines, Iowa, and Ross (Molly) Carponelli of Deer Park, Ill.; his grandchildren, Reese and Colette Lovell and Whitney Carponelli; his mother, Diana Carponelli of Wayne, Ill.; his sister, Paula (Terry) Bachner of Wayne, Ill.; and his niece, Jessica Bachner of St. Charles, Ill. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Pamela Mann Mutton of Rockford, Ill.; his brothers-in-law, Raymond J. (Ellen) Mann Jr. and Jeffrey T. (Lourdes) Mann of Reno, Nev.; and many aunts and multiple generations of cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Peter J. Carponelli; and brother-in-law, Dennis J. Mutton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, 847-679-3311 or Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, 224-770-2489. You may leave online condolences for the family at www.davenportfamily.com or call 847-381-3411 for information.