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Obituaries

  • January 9, 2014 | People
    William P. Laird 1949-2013

    William P. Laird, 64, of Moline, died peacefully Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, with his family surrounding him.

    William was born July 14, 1949, in Moline, son of Lester Neal and Margaret Elizabeth VanderBeke Laird. He graduated from United Township High School in 1967 where he was elected senior class president. He received his bachelor's and juris doctorate degrees from Drake University, where he was elected president of his beloved fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. He married Susan Kelly at St. Anne's Catholic Church on Aug. 13, 1971.

    William was an attorney for 38 years, working the last three years at Katz, Huntoon and Fieweger. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he served on the Parish Council. He also was a member of the Iowa and Illinois State Bar Associations, the Scott County and Rock Island County Bar Associations, the Rock Island County Public Building Commission, the Rock Island County Jail Commission and the Iowa Inns of Court. Bill also appeared regularly on WQAD's Good Morning Quad-Cities for many years as a weekly legal guest speaker. He was also one of the original organizers of the Moline DARE Program.

    William enjoyed golf, fishing, traveling, cheering on the Cubs, attending Iowa Hawkeye football games, but most of all, spending time with his family, friends and grandson, Liam.

  • December 30, 2013 | People
    Hon. Margaret O'Donnell Coffin 1925-2013

    Margaret "Peg" O'Donnell Coffin, 88, longtime resident of Oak Brook and Hinsdale, former judge, prosecutor, civic leader, wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2013.

    She graduated first in her class in 1949 and was a member of the Law Review at St. John's University (NY) School of Law. Legal and business positions included: Circuit Court Judge of DuPage County; Assistant State's Attorney of DuPage County (Criminal Division); Executive Development Program graduate and Manager at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. in New York City. Extensive civic leadership included: Member, Hinsdale District 86 Board of Education; President, St. Isaac Jogues Board of Education; Founding Member, first President and Director of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers; Member and Acting Chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village of Oak Brook; Chairman, Zoning & Annexation Committee for Oak Brook Civic Association in rewriting controversial proposed zoning ordinances and leading negotiations with developers over 1,500 acres in Oak Brook's early days; President, Director and Co-Founder of the Fullersburg Woods Area Association; and Executive Board Member, Education Advisory Committee for the Catholic Diocese of Joliet. 

    Always a woman of diverse interests, her passions ranged from being a private plane pilot, including aerobatic flying, to her behind-the-scenes efforts in local political campaigns and initiatives. 

  • December 17, 2013 | People
    William H. Powell 1919-2013

    William H. Powell, 94, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family on Dec. 10.

    William was a proud veteran of the US Navy during WWII from 1941-1945. He was a member of the Chicago Society, the Advocates Society and the Illinois State Bar Association.

    He was the beloved husband of the late Mildred nee Tomchek. Loving Father of Janet M. (the late Richard) Griesenauer, William P., Thomas J., James L. (Kathy) and Mary Grace. Cherished Grandfather of Bill (Lisa), Jeffrey (Kelly), Daniel (Joan), Michael, Donna, Autumn Malia, Parker, Erin, Stephanie (Aleks), Jacqueline and Great Grandfather of Diane, Michael, Katie, Bradley, Ryan, Cara, Danielle, Justine, Ryne and Astrid.

    Memorials to Avenues to Independence 515 Busse Highway Park Ridge, IL 60068 appreciated.

  • December 13, 2013 | People
    Carroll W. Dukes 1930-2013

    Carroll W. Dukes passed away on Nov. 13, 2013, after his courageous 14-month battle with cancer.

    Carroll was born on Sept. 9, 1930, near Collison, the son of William J. and Lily (Hess) Dukes.

    Carroll is survived by his wife, Mary (Denzer), whom he married on Jan. 1, 1982. He is also survived by his sons, Steven W. Dukes (Irma) of San Antonio, Texas, and William B. Dukes of Orlando, Fla.; as well as his stepchildren, Daryn Denzer (Julie) of Champaign, Daryl Denzer (Tonia) of LaPorte, Texas, and Shannon Schneider (Nick) of Mahomet. In addition, he is survived by nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

    He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Martha; his brother, William J. Dukes, who was killed in World War II; and sisters, Norma Miller, Mabre Seymour and Laverna (June) LaMar.

    Carroll graduated from Rossville High School in 1948 and entered the Air Force, where he spent 30 months stationed in Japan prior to his discharge in 1952. Upon discharge, he attended and graduated from Eastern Illinois University and continued on to Dickson School of Law, an adjunct of Penn State University, where he graduated in 1958.

    He became an associate with the law firm of Sebat, Swanson, Banks and Jones in Danville and shortly thereafter became a partner. In 1967, he opened CW Dukes law offices with an associate William Frivogel. In 1969, he was joined by John O'Rourke, and the firm of Dukes, O'Rourke, Stewart, Martin, and Ryan grew another eight attorneys. He retired in 2000 at age 70 from the firm currently known as Dukes, Ryan, Meyer & Freed.

  • December 12, 2013 | People
    Stephen G. Terrando 1947-2013

    Stephen G. Terrando, 66, a local resident and family law attorney, died Nov. 17, 2013, following a medical emergency while driving his car in Utica.

    Steve was born Oct. 4, 1947, in La Salle to Joseph and Florence (Loomis) Terrando, and was the eldest of six children. He married Joke’ Verwey on July 18, 1980, in Magnolia, Texas.

    Steve attended St. Bede Academy, La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College and Illinois State University in Normal. He received his bachelor of arts degree in Latin education from Illinois State University in 1969 and was a student teacher in the language at La Salle-Peru Township High School. Steve moved to Houston, Texas in 1971 and attended South Texas College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1974.  He practiced in Houston, Texas until 1987 when he moved his family back to the Illinois Valley where he maintained his practice in La Salle for the last 26 years. 

  • December 3, 2013 | People
    Scott C. Colky 1952-2013

    Chicago family law attorney Scott Colky, JD, passed away suddenly on Saturday, Nov. 30.

    A celebration of Scott's life will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th in the Oak Room of the Metropolitan Club, 66th floor, Willis Tower. People should bring stories and photographs of their memories of Scott for sharing. There will be music and light refreshments.

    Scott is survived by wife, Jennene, sons Joshua and Benjamin, brother, Michael (Deborah-deceased), sister, Dawn (husband Ed Kahn). Also, survived by his canine companions Gus and Zuma.

    In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Scott's name to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition or the Innocence Project.

  • November 14, 2013 | People
    Longtime ISBA Legislative Counsel Daniel Houlihan passes away

    Daniel L. Houlihan, of Wilmette, formerly of Beverly, and summer resident of Long Beach, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday night. Dan was a prominent zoning attorney who began his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney, served as an Illinois State Representative and longtime Legislative Counsel for ISBA.

    Dan was a long-standing Board of Director Member for Misericordia Heart of Mercy, and a member of Catholic Charities Advisory Board.

    Visitation will be held on Friday, November 15 from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Boulevard at Old Orchard Road, Skokie.  Funeral will be held on Saturday, November 16 at 10:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Church, 9th and Linden, Wilmette.

  • November 7, 2013 | People
    Robert S. Atkins 1931-2013

    Robert Sheldon Atkins, 81, a long-time Chicago litigator and public servant who argued one case before the U.S. Supreme Court, died on Oct. 20. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and State of Illinois Assistant Attorney General, prosecuting white collar crime, price-fixing, and big business conspiracies. After establishing and leading the state's anti-trust division, the Chicago Sun Times called him (at 5'8) "a little giant-killer."

    As a private litigator for three decades, Atkins worked with the Better Government Association, fighting corruption in Chicago and Illinois politics and government. Upon his retirement in recent years, Atkins taught constitutional law to elementary school students and presented himself as an inveterate letter-writer and gadfly in the Evanston community where he and his beloved wife, Patricia "Patty" Atkins made their home the past half-century.

    Son of Allen and Hattie Atkins, he grew up in Chicago, graduated from Senn High School, University of Wisconsin, and Northwestern University Law School. As a prodigious teenage violinist, Atkins once won the Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour (the Chicagoland "American Idol" of its time) and was the concertmaster of his high school orchestra. After a hiatus, he performed various violin recitals on the North Shore for the past 30 years.

  • October 29, 2013 | People
    Hon. Robert Scott 1923-2013

    The Hon. Robert Clement Scott, 90, of Fort Lauderdale, passed away on Oct. 2.

    Born April 8, 1923, and raised in Chicago, he attended Mae McMillan School in Fort Lauderdale in 1937-38, and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Chicago and the University of Notre Dame.

    Judge Scott was an infantry combat veteran of World War II who received the Bronze Star. After practicing law in Chicago, he moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1951, where he met his wife, the former Mary Louisa Smith.

    He was an early president of the Notre Dame Club of Fort Lauderdale, a 60-year member of The Florida Bar, and three- term member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, a Fellow in the American College of Probate Counsel, and from 1982 to 1993 a Circuit Judge for Broward County. But, most important, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

  • October 24, 2013 | People
    Sean Patrick O'Brien 1976-2013

    Sean Patrick O’Brien, 37, of Morton Grove, passed away suddenly and tragically in a car accident on Sept. 22, 2013.  

    Sean was very close to his family, extended family, and friends. He received his double Bachelor’s degree from  Illinois State University.  His master’s degree in Political Science from University of Illinois and then he went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton law school.  Shortly after law school Sean began a career working at the Illinois Department of Criminal Justice Information Authority where he is well respected amongst his peers. One of his main contributions was developing an organizational model of their system in which many states throughout the country have implemented.

    He is survived by his beloved wife and soul mate  Lisa ( Weiland) O'Brien.  Beloved oldest son of John and Linda O’Brien.  Loving brother of Erin (Brent) Eggleston, Moreen (Jacob) Lusk and Kevin “Shorty” O’Brien.  Adored uncle of Isabelle and Matthew Eggleston, Ethan Lusk and Brandon and Jeremy Flores.  Dear son in law of Pam (and the late Steven) Weiland.  Fond brother in law of Karyn Weiland Flores.  Loved nephew of Richard and Colleen Atwood and Greg and Mary O'Brien. 

    Charitable donations may be made in Sean's memory to the following organization:

    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Illinois Chapter