William C. Butcher, formerly of Melrose Park, passed away on Nov. 28, 2009, at his home in Kent, Wash. Bill was born Jan. 30, 1924, in Rock Island. He married Velma Melton on Jan. 1, 1943, in Chicago. He served in the Army Air Corp in the South Pacific during WWII. He graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1953 and practiced law for 40 years. He enjoyed playing chess, and he loved the Lord. Having retired, Bill and Velma moved to Washington six years ago. Bill is survived by his brother, Ted, and sister, June; his daughter, Mary; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife and their daughter, Patricia. Burial will take place 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, 2009, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash. Arrangements by Marlatt Funeral Home in Kent, Wash.

Attorney John F. McCabe died on October 24, 2009, at age 51 at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge after a long battle with cancer. John was a man of integrity and humility, who dedicated his life to his family and profession. John graduated in 1984 from Ohio State School of Law. He spent 15 years at the Will County State's Attorney's Office where he served for several years as Supervisor of the Felony Division and Chief of White Collar Crimes Unit. John obtained verdicts in over 50 felony criminal cases and had 14 1st degree murder convictions. Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said "John had a brilliant mind, a heart-felt compassion for others, a great sense of humor and a gracious but masterful ability to read people. These qualities made him a phenomenal prosecutor and an incredible human being. He never complained about his personal travails, but he was always the first to step up to help others. I'm a much better person for having known John McCabe." Former colleagues described John as a "truly fine thinker who worked tirelessly to bring about justice," a "quiet giant of the law," "tough but compassionate," and an "excellent lawyer but an even better person," who was "honest and honorable." John was recently employed at Codilis and Associates where John practiced real estate law representing mortgage bankers. According to his law firm, John's reputation in this area was "unparalleled." He handled contested litigation and was responsible for Cook and Will County matters. He was well respected by judges, colleagues and support staff.

In the latest ISBA Bench and Bar Section newsletter, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald shared the following remembrance of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Fred G. Suria, who died last July (read his obituary in the Daily Herald).

"Judge Suria was a gentleman’s scholar and a good and valued friend. Of his 44 years on the bench, almost all of them were spent in Criminal Court at the 26th and California courthouse. Fred loved 26th street, both the place and the people. He loved his fellow judges, the lawyers, the court employees, the jurors and even the defendants who were treated just as respectfully as the others.

"He was called 'Fair Fred,' a name he had earned by the way he did business and performed his duties. He treated everyone with dignity. As one former juror who experienced his courtroom wrote after his death: Judge Suria imparted a sense of faith in the judicial system, and was the ideal ambassador for the criminal court system in Chicago.

"Judge Suria was born in Philadelphia to an Irish mother. His father was an eastern-European immigrant who came to America as a cabin boy. The family moved to Chicago when Fred was eight. He graduated from Morgan Park High School, served in the Marine Corps and, after World War II, used the GI bill to earn degrees from the University of Illinois and Loyola University School of Law.

Edward J. Enichen, 79, of Rockford died Sunday, Sept. 20, after a brief illness. Enichen was born Oct. 14, 1929 in Dixon, the son of Frederick and Louise (Mueller) Enichen. Enichen was an active attorney for nearly 55 years with the Rockford law firm of Guyer and Enichen, P.C. He was  a man who not only saw life as a cup full, but his cup was brimming over. His warm, joyful personality drew people to him like a magnet. He will always be remembered for his ready smile and easy laugh. He was a talented storyteller with a great sense of humor, who easily embellished a tale to make it funny. Besides his long legal career, Enichen gave service to many local community organizations. He was also connected to the land and loved spending time on his beloved farm in Durand and at his cabin on the pristine Brule River in Wisconsin. He loved hunting and fishing and the that camaraderie that came with it. There are many distinguished photos of Ed, but in the vast majority of his photographs, he is holding a fish. Survivors include his children, Peter Enichen of Boulder, Colo.; Jamie (Stephen) Malato and Julie Enichen, both of Chicago; the mother of his children, Alice Enichen; grandchildren, Grace and Samuel Malato and Ellie Enichen; special friend, Beverly O'Keefe; sister, Charlene Vaughn; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Natural Land Institute, 320 S. Third, Rockford, IL, 61104; Rockford Park District Foundation, 401 S. Main St., Rockford, IL, 61101 or the Rockford Symphony Orchestra Foundation, 711 N. Main, Rockford, IL, 61103. Visit the obituary on the Rockford Register Star