Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Monday that the Sixth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Phoebe S. Bowers as an associate judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Ms. Bowers received her undergraduate degree in 2000 from Millikin University in Decatur and her Juris Doctor in 2003 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Ms. Bowers is currently affiliated with Fuller, Quigg & Bowers in Decatur.
Robert Bruce "Bob" Thomson Jr., 75, of Ashland, Ill., died Friday, Nov. 29, 2014, at St. John's Hospice in Springfield, Ill.
He was born Dec. 7, 1938, in Jacksonville, Ill., the son of Attorney Robert Bruce Sr. and Isabel Jane Ballow Thomson.
He is survived by four daughters and two sons: Elizabeth (Peter) Cappas of Elgin, Ill., Kathryn (Christopher Lu) Thomson of Arlington, Va., Sarah (Will) Palmer of Landsdowne, Va., Rachel Gray of Memphis, Tenn., Robert Bruce (Erin) Thomson III of Arlington, Va., and Charles Andrew Bowman Thomson of Naples, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and special friend and fiancée, Cynthia Gutmann of Ashland.
He was preceded in death by a daughter at birth, Rebecca Bently Thomson; sister, Marilyn Jane Thomson; and brother, William Lloyd Thomson.
Mr. Thomson graduated from Illinois College in three years, and then obtained his law degree from University of Illinois. He was a practicing attorney for over 50 years, first at Thomson & Thomson, then Robert B. Thomson Law Firm in 1974 followed by Thomson & Strawn for five years. He then had his own practice before being joined by Charles "Chuck" McNeely, and most recently he again had his own practice.
Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney is pleased to announce that Samuel Rosenberg and Lauren Zabrin have joined the team in our Chicago office. Both are members of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Samuel A. Rosenberg is a trial attorney who focuses his practice on medical malpractice litigation and insurance matters. Prior to joining Segal McCambridge, Mr. Rosenberg practiced law throughout Central Illinois as a Champaign County Assistant State’s Attorney and as a civil litigator. He was also a special assistant in the Office of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and previously worked in the felony trial division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rosenberg ran for State Representative in the 103rd District (Champaign-Urbana) in 2014.
In addition to his work at trial, Mr. Rosenberg is a member of the Litigation Counsel of America, the Illinois State Bar Association, and has served on the executive committee of local Jewish charitable organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from the University of Illinois.
John D. Norcross passed away on November 9, 2014, in Chicago.
John spent his final days surrounded by the love of his closest friends, pastor, and wife. His last afternoon was filled with harmony and joy as musicians from Sharing Notes played works by Strauss and Brahms, his favorite composers. He passed away peacefully that evening in his sleep.
The dearly beloved husband of Joanna Elin Petroff Norcross, John was also the loving brother of Mary Jane (late John C. Rainey) Norcross, the late Peter Christopher Norcross and the late Richard David Norcross; and the cherished uncle of Cynthia (Jeffrey) Penney and Ginger (T.J. McCall) Tougas.
John was a lifelong resident of Chicago, a city he loved. He was born to Dr. John R. Norcross and Louise M. Ballschmider Norcross. After attending Loyola Academy he majored in economics at Stanford University. A graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law, he was a Founding Partner in the law firm Crane and Norcross. John lived with his wife in the Gold Coast neighborhood, where he co-founded Gibsons Restaurant Group and took a great interest in the original steakhouse, now in its 25th year. Well-known for his investing skills, John began each morning trading for himself, family and friends. John was a man of great faith and devotion to the Catholic Church, a sportsman, traveler, and supporter of the performing arts.
John “Jack” Thomas Keleher - devoted husband, loving father, adoring grandfather, dear brother, uncle, cousin; friend of the less fortunate and oppressed; lover of nature, poetry, and history; compassionate, kind and gentle soul - passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 13, 2014.
Jack was born on October 29, 1923, the son of Irish immigrants Elizabeth J. Sampey and Patrick J. Keleher. He grew up in Chicago and was the oldest of three brothers, Francis, James (Joan), and Patrick (Joan), who predeceased him, and one sister who survives him, Sr. Jean Keleher, CSC. Jack was married to the love of his life, Dorothy Agnes Catalano, for 67 years. They met when both were members of a Catholic youth group focusing on social justice. They married on May 24, 1947, at St. Giles Church in Oak Park.
Jack went to Our Lady Help of Christians grammar school and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He served as an officer in the Navy during WWII after training at Notre Dame and Harvard. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 1947 and Loyola Law School in 1951. He was a law professor at Loyola and Kent law schools, practiced law for 26 years, and served as a circuit court judge of Cook County for the last 16 years of his career. He helped establish and implement the Mandatory Arbitration Program in the Circuit Court of Cook County, and became its first supervisory judge in 1990.
Jamie E. Levin has joined Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. as an associate. She focuses her practice in Corporate transactions & business law, estate planning & asset protection and healthcare.
She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2011 and received her JD from Loyola University Chicago in 2014. Prior to joining Chuhak & Tecson, Jamie served as a Legal Extern for the American Medical Association, where she gained extensive regulatory experience. Jamie also worked as a Legal Extern in the Circuit Court of Cook County
Ronald N. Primack has joined Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. as Of Counsel. Primack concentrates his practice in Banking; Corporate Transactions & Business Law; Employment; Estate Planning & Asset Protection; Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1978 and received his JD from DePaul University College of Law in 1981. He was previously employed at the Law Offices of Ronald N. Primack, L.L.C.
Frederick Charles Niemi, 76, died in his home Friday, November 7, 2014. Born on October 10, 1938, in Chicago IL, Fred was raised in Berwyn, IL and attended Morton High School where he played trumpet in the jazz band. Fred graduated with a history degree from the University of Illinois Champaign and later from the Chicago Kent College of Law. Fred operated a private law practice in Riverside, IL for over 40 years.
A dedicated steward of his Finnish heritage, Fred served as the Honorary Consul of Finland for 34 years, spanning from 1974 to 2008. During his tenure as the Honorary Finnish Consul, his many years of service and dedication were recognized and he was awarded the decoration of the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland. This designation is awarded for civilian and military merit. Fred's strong sense of civic duty was also exemplified by his involvement in local community charities and organizations. Fred served on the boards of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce and the former Suomi College (now Finlandia University) and was a member of the Nordic Law Club.
His strong desire to help others also led to board positions with the Fillmore Center for Mental Health and the Berwyn Kiwanis Club. Fred was an avid reader of history, an outdoorsman, a lover of music-notably Sibelius, Mahler, Stan Kenton, Coleman Hawkins, and Puccini, and a frequent traveler with journeys that took him to Finland, Russia, China, Sweden, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, the British Isles and Italy.
Northwestern University School of Law took first place honors in the Midwest Regional of the American Bar Association’s Employment Law Trial Advocacy Competition – held November 15-16 at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Second place honors went to another Chicago law school: IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Northwestern will advance to the National Finals in New Orleans on January 24-25, 2015.
Northwestern and Chicago-Kent were two of 18 teams competing from across the Midwest region, including Baylor, Indiana University, The John Marshall Law School, Southern Illinois University, University of Cincinnati, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri, Washington University and Tulane University.
The Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association sponsored the 11th annual competition with a total of 99 teams from 8 regions across the nation, including the Midwest region. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, of the Northern District of Illinois, judged the Finals of the Midwest Regional Competition in Chicago. Sitting judges, prominent employment lawyers and law professors served as evaluators.
Congressman Lane Allen Evans, 63, of Rock Island, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline. He died of complications brought on by the effects of Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 1995.
Lane was born Aug. 4, 1951, in Rock Island to Lee H. and Joycelene E. (Saylor) Evans. He was the second of four brothers, Steve, Doyle and Dave. Lane attended Sacred Heart School in Rock Island and graduated from Alleman High School in 1969. He then joined the Marine Corps and completed boot camp in San Diego. Lane was stationed in Okinawa during the Vietnam War due to the Sullivan Act because his brother Steve was already in Vietnam.
Two years later, he was honorably discharged and began his studies at Black Hawk College. Lane then attended Augustana College and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1974. He completed his education with a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977. During these years, Lane volunteered for the presidential campaigns of George McGovern and populist Fred Harris. He was a field staff organizer for Ted Kennedy’s 1980 presidential campaign. He worked out of his home as an attorney until opening the Community Legal Service Practice with two other attorneys, Dennis Buchneger and Jean Becker, in 1981.