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  • April 22, 2015 | People
    DuPage Family Law attorney opens new law office

    DuPage family law attorney Don Pesce is proud to announce the opening of Pesce Law Group, P.C.. The DuPage County law firm will assist clients from three convenient office locations in Naperville, Oak Brook and Burr Ridge.

    The family law firm’s main office is located in Naperville, IL. Pesce Law Group, P.C. will represent clients throughout DuPage County with numerous family law matters including, but not limited to: divorce, child support, child custody, high net worth divorce, paternity, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

    “I am excited to announce the opening of Pesce Law Group. I look forward to expanding my practice throughout DuPage County while continuing to focus on the specific needs of every client,” says Managing Partner Don Pesce.

    DuPage County divorce lawyer Don Pesce received his J.D. from the IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2005. He serves as a Court-approved Guardian ad litem for the 18th Judicial Circuit in DuPage County. Pesce is also Court-approved in DuPage County to serve as a Mediator to resolve custody and visitation matters.

    1 comment (Most recent April 23, 2015)
  • April 21, 2015 | People
    Donald Lynn Smith 1938-2015

    Donald Lynn Smith, 76, died on Monday, March 30, 2015, at Alton Memorial Hospital.

    Born October 28, 1938, in Carbondale, Ill., he was the son of Irvan and Lucille (Lynn) Smith.

    Mr. Smith graduated from East Alton Wood River High School in 1956. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1962 with a law degree and an accounting degree. After college he worked for Arthur Anderson & Company in Chicago. He then entered Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He served on the Navy legal department from 1962-1966 having spent time on board the USS Kitty Hawk CVA 63. In 1966 he joined the law firm of Hoagland, Maucker, Bernard & Almeter which later became Hoagland, Fitzgerald, Smith, & Pranitis. From 1992-2011 he was the Assistant State's Attorney. Mr. Smith intended to retire in 2015 after 51 years of service. He was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, The Madison County Bar Association, and the Wood River Township Jaycees. On October 18, 1974 he married the former JoAnn Patterson in Edwardsville. She survives.

  • April 20, 2015 | People
    Sullivan appointed Cook County Circuit Judge

    Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court on Monday announced the appointment of veteran Oak Park attorney William B. Sullivan as Cook County Circuit Judge in the Eleventh Judicial Subcircuit.

    Mr. Sullivan, a longtime resident of the Eleventh Subcircuit, was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Susan Zwick. The appointment takes effect June 11, 2015 and will terminate Dec. 5, 2016, when the position is filled by the 2016 General Election.

  • April 15, 2015 | People
    Arthur C. Chapman 1917-2015

    Arthur C. Chapman, 97, of Evanston and formerly Highland Park passed away on March 10, 2015 at the Mather in Evanston. The son of Louis Chapman and Regina Giller Chapman, he was a New York native, graduated from NYU and its law school where he was on law review, served in North Africa in World War II and after the war in the reserves in the Judge Advocate Corps of the 5th Army.

    After practicing law in New York he moved to Chicago in 1946 where was in practice for 54 years. The impetus for the move was the love of his life, Lorraine Grossberg Wagner, his wife of 69 years. Together they traveled the world, sailed the Caribbean, and made a multitude of friends wherever they went. Arthur was the consummate gentleman, devoted husband and father, tenacious lawyer, and caring humanitarian. Besides, his wife Lorraine, he is survived by his daughter Louise Chapman Locker and her husband Gershon Locker, son Eliot Chapman, granddaughter Rachel Locker Shalem and her husband Alan Shalem. His beloved grandson Joshua predeceased him. In lieu of flowers contributions to Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe IL or Anshe Emet, 3751 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60613 would be appreciated. For Info: 847-256-5700
  • April 15, 2015 | People
    David Schmidt 1958-2015

    The University of Michigan lost one of its most ardent fans Wednesday, March 4, 2015, when David Faulkner Schmidt, the mayor of Park Ridge, Illinois, died after a sudden illness at his home. He was 57.

    Dave was, in fact, a sports fan of all teams Detroit: Lions and Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings.

    Dave was a talented lawyer, a member of Chittenden, Murday & Novotny LLC, with more than 20 years of litigation, trial and appellate experience in courts in Illinois and elsewhere in the U.S. In 2011, 2012 and 2014, he was named a Leading Lawyer, an honor shared by only 5 percent of all lawyers in Illinois.

    A staunch Republican, Dave launched his career in nonpartisan local politics as an alderman serving the 1st Ward on the Park Ridge City Council. He was elected Park Ridge mayor in 2009 and re-elected – handily – in 2013.

    A graduate of New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois, Dave earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and political science from Iowa's Coe College in 1978. He received his law degree, cum laude, from Chicago's Loyola University School of Law in 1990, where he was second in his class. While in law school, Dave served as the president of the Student Bar Association.

    He was active as a Cub Scout den leader, and he especially enjoyed coaching his son, Kevin, on their Little League Baseball teams.

  • April 15, 2015 | People
    Patrick D. Ertel 1947-2015

    Patrick D. Ertel passed away at the age of 67 on Sunday, March 15th, in his recently adopted hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina, after suffering a massive heart attack.

    The youngest son of Louis G. Ertel and Edith (Marks) Ertel, Patrick was born on October 21st, 1947, and was raised in Muncie, Indiana. He graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame (1970) and earned his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University (1973). He practiced intellectual property law for 42 years in Chicago, the past 16 of those years with Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, where he served as a Managing Partner.

    Patrick was respected as a generous mentor, whether it was by colleagues at work or by youth on the soccer field. He held a commitment to education and not only actively pursued his own ongoing learning, but also proudly supported anyone whom he might be able to help do the same. He saw athletics as a tool to positively impact the lives of young people—especially his three daughters, as well as many of their teammates—and was a dedicated youth soccer coach who retired his whistle with a winning record.

    Patrick died doing something he loved: running. He ran three days per week during most weeks, and although it had been decades since he completed the Chicago Marathon, he may have been in the best shape of his life. If there was any other activity that Patrick might have chosen as his last, it surely would have been captaining his boat, Pearl of the South, across the waterways of the Lowcountry with his wife and dog by his side.

  • April 14, 2015 | People
    Thomas Novotny, Sr. 1948-2015

    Thomas Francis Novotny Sr., attorney and former CPD; 66, of Beverly; passed away peacefully March 20, 2015, after valiantly battling congestive heart failure due to complications from lifelong diabetes.

    Devoted father of Thomas Jr. and Annie (Rob Jeffries), proud grandfather of Cecilia Louise; dear brother of Marilyn, Joanne (John) Patterson, and Nancy; beloved uncle and friend.

    Alum of St. Rita H.S. '66, Lewis College '70, and Kent College of Law '80. Tom had many talents and his careers included teaching English and coaching hockey at St. Rita H.S., serving on the Chicago Police Department (9th district and Dept. of Research and Dev't.), and eventually practicing law on Chicago's South Side and Oak Lawn.

    Member of The Beverly Area Planning Association and DuPage Amateur Radio Club, Tom was an avid ham radio enthusiast (handle W9LCL). Although Tom wore many hats, he cherished his family above all else. Tom will be remembered for his wit and humor, his intelligence and kindness. He will be missed by all.

    In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org)

  • April 13, 2015 | People
    Adams, Gingrich and Doi join Daley Mohan Groble

    Daley Mohan Groble is pleased to announce that Heather Adams, Sean Gingrich and Kathryn Doi have joined the firm.

    Heather Adams specializes in employment and civil litigation, representing clients from diverse industries.  She also works with employers to develop strategies and training for their Compliance and Personnel Divisions as well as leads internal investigations into complaints of workplace harassment, retaliation and discrimination. She was formerly with a Chicago-based law firm specializing in management-side labor and employment litigation and tort defense. Heather graduated from DePaul University College of Law, and holds a B.S. from West Virginia State University.

    Sean Gingrich represents large corporate clients defending personal injury cases under FELA and worker’s compensation, with significant experience in understanding complex medical issues and deep knowledge of disability law. He was previously with a disability law firm where he tried cased in front of Administrative Law Judges. Sean earned his J. D. at Seattle University School of Law, and holds a B.A. from Marquette University.

  • April 6, 2015 | People
    Elinor Swiger 1927-2015

    Elinor Swiger nee Porter, 87, of Glenview, passed away peacefully at home March 7, 2015.

    Mrs. Swiger received her Bachelor and Law Degrees from The Ohio State University. At Ohio State she was involved with the YWCA, Student Court and Mortar Board. After graduating from law school she was a tax attorney in the Chief Council’s Office of the IRS where she met her future husband, Quentin. During her parenting years she was a member of a writer’s workshop which led to her writing and publishing six books. She wrote two books on travel to Mexico and Europe that were family based, three law books for high school and law students and a biography on famous women lawyers including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. After raising her three boys, she was a lawyer for 25 years with the Chicago law firm, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor Ltd. where she practiced until she retired. Elinor was also very active in her community, serving two terms on the Glenbrook District 225 School Board, two terms on the Glenview Police/Fire Commission and 10 years as the chairman of the Glenview Zoning Board. She was passionately involved with the Bar Association, Character Counts, the Northfield Chapter of the Lyric Opera and the Glenview Community Church. She greatly enjoyed the game of golf, gardening and travel.

    Beloved wife for 59 years of the late Quentin G. Swiger; loving mother of Andrew (Sherry), Calvin (Kathy), and Charles (Patty) Swiger; cherished grandmother of Matthew Swiger; dear sister of Marilyn (Ed) Eschliman; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews.

    Interment will be private. Memorials may be made to The New Foundation Center, 444 W. Frontage Road, Northfield, IL 60093.

  • April 6, 2015 | People
    Troemper sworn-in as Circuit Judge in 7th Circuit

    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman swore in Judge April G. Troemper as Circuit Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Carlinville on April 2. Following an in-depth selection process, Judge Troemper was appointed by Chief Justice Garman to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Patrick Londrigan.