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Obituaries

  • March 11, 2014 | People
    Don Cadagin 1940-2014

    Don Cadagin, 73, of Springfield, died on Friday, March 7, 2014 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC.

    Don was born November 25, 1940 in Springfield, the son of Frank A. and Gertrude O’Leary Cadagin. He married Kathryn Holl on December 20, 1975 at Blessed Sacrament
    Catholic Church in Springfield.

    Don graduated from Cathedral Boys High School and proudly served his country in the United States Army. He later received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1972. Judge Cadagin has served as assistant State's Attorney, Public Defender, and Sangamon County State's Attorney. He was elected circuit judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit in 1994, and retained that position until his retirement July 8, 2005. Don was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church as well as the Sangamon County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association.

    He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Edward, James, Jack, Robert, and Richard “Dick” Cadagin; and one sister-in-law, Jackie Cadagin.

    He is survived by his wife, Kathy Cadagin of Springfield; two sons, Sean (wife, Amanda Atkins) Cadagin of Chicago and Ryan Cadagin (fiancé, Katherine Dinges) of Springfield; one daughter, Meghan (husband, Bobby) Noll of Springfield; one grandson, Daniel Cadagin; three sisters, Mary (husband, Marvin) Farmer of Springfield, Patricia (husband, Larry) Snodgrass of Batavia, and Rita (husband, Ed) Norris of Springfield; and many nieces and nephews.

  • February 28, 2014 | People
    Robert J. O'Connell 1927-2014

    Robert J. O’Connell, age 86, of Evanston formerly from Fairbanks, Alaska. Veteran U.S. Army Korean War. Distinguished law professor at Marquette University, Kent Law School and John Marshall Law School as well as a recreational pilot.

    Beloved brother of the late Franklin, Jr. M.D. (the late Mary Lou) O’Connell, the late Jerome M.D. (Ellen) O’Connell and the late Regina (the late James, Sr.) Nash.; dear uncle of Thomas (Terri) O’Connell, Deirdre (Edmond) deVlam, Meg (Michael) Hawkins, John O’Connell, Anne O’Connell,M.D. (Ethan Kunz), Patricia O’Connell (Stephen Bell), Edward (Julie) O’Connell, Peter O’Connell, Catherine Nash, James, Jr. (Nancy) Nash, Maura (Ted) Kennedy and Regina Nash; fond great uncle to many ; will be greatly missed by friends in Finland, Northern Wisconsin, Alaska and the Amish Community.

  • February 12, 2014 | People
    John N. Pieper 1949-2014

    John N. Pieper, age 64, a resident of Naperville, IL since 2003, formerly of Moline and Winfield, IL, died Thursday, January 23, 2014 at his home. He was born October 16, 1949 in Davenport, IA.

    John grew up in Moline, IL, attended Moline High School (Class of 1967) and was a 1971 graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign with a degree in chemistry. He graduated with distinction from John Marshall Law School, Chicago in 1976 and, shortly afterwards, clerked for Judge Allan Stouder of the Illinois Appellate Court. John practiced law for many years in Cook and DuPage Counties including operating the Law Offices of John N. Pieper in Wheaton and Naperville until his retirement in 2013. He was an active volunteer at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle and served on the board of the Naperville Humane Society. John enjoyed playing golf, scuba diving and gardening.

    Loving companion to Shannon West, devoted son of the late Henry and Ruth Pieper, dear brother of Mary Kay (Wesley) Johnson of Moline, IL and Judith (Craig) Wyatt of Rockford, IL, fond uncle of Kathleen (Karl) Kochendorfer, Sara (Shawn) Wynn, Stephen Wyatt and Suzanne (Nathan) Parker, great-uncle of many, loving friend to Ron West.

    A private visitation was held for family members.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials to: Naperville Humane Society 1620 W. Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL 60563, www.napervilleareahumanesociety.org (630) 420-8989 or Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, www.mortonarb.org, (630) 968-0074

  • February 12, 2014 | People
    Hon. Richard R. Rochester 1931-2014

    The Honorable Richard R. Rochester of Northbrook, Illinois died Tuesday, January 28, 2014.  He was the beloved husband of Florenceen Rochester (DeGrazio) for 56 years. He was also the devoted father of five surviving children: Domineque (Scott McCartney), Richard (Kristyn), RoxAnne (John Marhoefer), Ronald (Kit Llerandi), and Rory (Julie). He is survived by his 13 grandchildren, Tyler, Kelsey, Richard, Riley, Robert, John, Dominic, Margo, David, Lucas, Brittany, Brooke and Brielle, and a great-grandson, Brayden.

    Richard was born on August 20, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois and was the only child of Richmond Rochester and Anne Marie Rochester (Bockstahler). He was raised in Chicago and attended St. Patrick’s High School. He served in the United States Army. Richard completed his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois and obtained his law degree from IIT Chicago Kent Law School.  After working for more than thirty-five years as an attorney for private clients, Richard served as a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, in Chicago, Illinois. He is a past president of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. After retiring he resided in Venice, Florida with his wife.

    A memorial service will be held at Our Lady of the Brook Catholic Church at 3700 Dundee Rd., Northbrook, Illinois 60062 on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. (visitation), 11:00 a.m. (mass).

    In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

  • February 10, 2014 | People
    Anthony "Tony" Novak 1950-2014

    Anthony "Tony" Novak of Urbana passed away Saturday (Feb. 8, 2014) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after losing his battle with cancer. He was 63.

    Tony is survived by his wife, Amy Fuller; his son, Henry; his mother, Anna Novak-Heller; his brother, Rick; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

    A devoted criminal defense attorney, Tony worked to ensure the justice system delivered on its promise of a fair trial.

    He was active in the Jewish community, and was a past president of Sinai Temple and the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation.

    He was passionate about tennis, skiing, bowling, boating, water-skiing and his friends.

    He picked up friends across the spectrum and around the country; he collected people, art, funky furniture, toys and experiences.

    He loved a good meal at a dive; pie; his mother's cooking; a good ski trip; a long story.

    If an argument broke out, or someone voiced a harsh opinion of someone else, Tony's booming voice would interrupt with the solution that pleased the most parties, or made the most sense. He was a mediator of conflicts large and small, and he relied on a strong sense of justice to mete out his decisions.

    His house represents him to his friends and family. It's independent, like Tony - outside of town, out of the way. It's colorful, filled with the quirky furniture and art that he collected over the years. It's filled with the memories that show his life was full, even if it ended too soon.

    The house, and the woods behind it - the neighbors and family and friends who frequently visited both can go there to remember him.

  • February 6, 2014 | People
    William Leo Morrison 1931-2013

    William Leo Morrison lost his long and valiant battle with cancer on the evening of Dec. 4, 2013. William Leo Morrison died peacefully in the home he had made for 59 years with his loving and beloved wife, Kate.

    The immediate cause of death may be linked to the crushing defeat of the Chicago Bears the Sunday before, which he weathered with his son.

    Bill was born January 19, 1931, in Nampa, Idaho, and raised in the (then) small town of Aberdeen, SD, by James and May Morrison. He played high school football, worked in his father's grocery store, fished with his brother and father, but avoided hunting. He forged friendships and memories that sustained him to his final days.

    He left Aberdeen to attend Harvard College, where he encountered Kate, close friends, and a world of literature - all of which, he felt, shaped the man that he became. After law school, he and Kate moved to Chicago, where they raised their family and he practiced law at the firm of Gardner, Carton and Douglas.

    He was a man of great intelligence, integrity, and humor. He was generous in the extreme. He was a voracious reader - fiction, non-fiction, history, mystery and the news of the day. On the table beside his bed at the time of his death were the collected short stories of William Trevor, Alice Munro's "Dear Life", and "Bloodlands" by Timothy Snyder. His stoicism as a 50-year supporter of the Bears approached the quiet hope and resignation of a private religion. He loved advice columns, Scrabble and the Word of the Week.

  • February 3, 2014 | People
    Vincent E. Bentivenga, Jr. 1936-2014

    The Hon. Vincent E. Bentivenga, Jr., 77, passed away on January 2, 2014. He was a graduate of St. Thomas the Apostle grammar school, Mt. Carmel High School, Loyola University, and DePaul Law School. Highly respected Judge of the Cook County Criminal Court for more than 20 years.

    Beloved father of Mark (Rachelle - deceased) Bentivenga and Scott (Barbara) Bentivenga; loving grandfather ("Papa Vince") to Rachel, Rick, Jake and Rocco Bentivenga; dear brother of Guy (Bobbie) Bentivenga; loving uncle to Michael, Jimmy, Karen and Steve Bentivenga.

    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul of the Cross Church, 320 S. Washington Street, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068 or Mt. Carmel High School, 6410 S. Dante Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. Visit Vincent's memorial at www.smithcorcoran.com.

  • January 23, 2014 | People
    Lorri A. Mott 1965-2013

    Lorri A. Mott (Compton), 48, of Smithton, Ill., born Jan. 9, 1965, in Keokuk, Iowa, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, Ill.

    Lorri was a well-known and well-respected attorney for the past 22 years, practicing in Belleville, Ill. She specialized in adoptions, GAL (Guardian Ad Litem), and all facets of family law. She served on the Children's First Foundation board of directors, and worked on the continuing legal education program for the St. Clair County Bar Association. She served as the secretary for the Ledgestone Estates Homeowners Association in Smithton, Ill., and was treasurer of the St. Louis Barbie Club. She enjoyed jazz music, traveling, arts and crafts, and creating Barbie doll accessories.

    She was preceded in death her father, Leo Mott; and her father-in-law, David Compton Jr.

    Surviving are her husband of 22 years, Timothy P. Compton, whom she married on May 17, 1991; her mother, Lois, nee Young, Mott of Quincy, Ill.; three brothers, Randy (Barbara) Mott of Poland, Rick Mott of Washington, D.C., and John (Chris) Mott of Venice, Fla.; a sister, Nancy Barry of Quincy, Ill.; her mother-in-law, Frances L., nee Goodwin, Compton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

    1 comment (Most recent January 23, 2014)
  • January 13, 2014 | People
    Gerald F. Tuite, Sr. 1928-2013

    Gerald F. Tuite, Sr., 85, died Tuesday, December 31, 2013 in Naples, Fla. He was a former long time Rockford resident.

    Gerald was a combat infantry leader as well as a chief photographer for the US Army Signal Corp in Japan during the Korean War. After the Army, he attended Rockford College and Georgetown University. He then attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, graduating with Honors and a Juris Doctor degree in 1958. During law school, he worked as a claims adjuster for Travelers Insurance Company.

    In 1958, he opened his law office in Rockford, Illinois. His law firm of Gerald Tuite & Associates specialized in Labor Law, Workers' Compensation Law and Personal Injury Law. He was the Senior Partner of the firm, where he handled and litigated cases for injured workers. His son, Gregory Tuite, began practicing in his father's law firm and has taken over the firm, which is now known as Greg Tuite & Associates.

  • January 9, 2014 | People
    Jerome F. Wolfson 1919-2013

    Jerome F. "Jerry" Wolfson, 94, passed away Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 at the Regency.

    He was born July 24, 1919 in Springfield the son of Henry and Bessie Rich Wolfson. He married Muriel Levy in Chicago in 1943. He and his bride had been married almost 70 years at the time of her death in 2012, despite her mother saying it would never last. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, a sister; Dorothy Wolfson and two brothers; Milton and Lee Wolfson.

    Upon graduating from University of Illinois law school, the country entered into World War II and so did he. After being discharged at the end of the war, he entered the family-owned Wolfson Furniture Company He practiced law in the office of Senator George Drach until he went into his own private practice.

    Jerome was a life member of Temple B'rith Sholom. A member of B'nai Brith, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Sangamon county Bar Association, and the Saturday Night Dance club. Jerome and Muriel had been dancing together since college and they were great fun to watch. They danced like Fred and Ginger. He also painted, welded small metal statues and if something needed fixing, he was the guy you called.

    Jerome had a wonderful sense of humor. Up until the end, Muriel thought he was funny.