Chicago Area

John Theodore Karnezis, partner in the Chicago law firm Pullano & Karnezis, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday morning at LaGrange Memorial Hospital in LaGrange. "John was a highly skilled lawyer, but what made him an outstanding attorney was his compassion and empathy for his clients. He always put his clients first and would do whatever was necessary to make sure they received the best result," said Richard Pullano, partner, Pullano & Karnezis. "John loved his work, but the one thing he loved most in life was going home at the end of the day to his wife, Dena, and his twin boys, Michael and John. We will miss him greatly." John was born July 23, 1966 and grew up in the Beverly neighborhood where he attended Christ the King Grammar School (1980), Marist High School (1984), University of Illinois (1988) and Loyola University Law School where he earned his J.D. in 1991. John had attended a 30th class reunion at Christ the King the night before he died. John was the beloved husband of Dena Angela (nee Turnquist); the loving and proud father to precious twin sons, John Themis and Michael Timothy and late twin sons, Theodore and Marshall; and devoted son to the Honorable Themis (Illinois Appellate Court, First District) and Melodie Karnezis and the late Charlotte (nee Dolan). Prior to forming Pullano & Karnezis in 2009, Mr. Karnezis was a litigator at Clifford Law Offices, where he started as an associate in 2000 and advanced to partner in 2005.