Retired Lake County Circuit Court Judge David Hall, who also was a devoted supporter of the local YMCA and a member of a rock and roll band, died May 20 surrounded by his family.

He was 61.

The lifelong Waukegan resident, who in 2011 was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is survived by his wife, Karen, a daughter and three sons.

“Judge David Hall was a man of superb intellect and marvelous wit who never let go of his fascination with history and love of music, particularly rock and roll,” Chief Judge John Phillips said Wednesday.

“In the courtroom he strove to ensure that every litigant, attorney and witness left his courtroom knowing that the judge had truly listened to what they had to say and that his decision was justly based on the law and the evidence that was presented,” Phillips said.

Hall was appointed to the bench as associate judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit in 1989.

Following a contested primary election in 2000, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Hall as circuit judge to fill the vacancy created by the death of then Circuit Judge Jack Hoogasian. Hall was then successfully elected to two, six-year terms as a circuit judge.

Throughout his judicial career, Hall served as acting chief judge, chief judge, presiding judge of the civil division and as chair of the judicial Court Facilities Committee. He was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Judges Association and the Lake County Bar Association.

Read the full obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times