People

Hon. Jerome T. Burke (Ret.) passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 27, 2013.

Jerry Burke grew up on Chicago's North Side in the Rogers Park neighborhood where he attended Hardy Prep and Loyola Academy. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1958 and received his law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law in 1964.

He was an attorney with the law firm Arvey, Hodes before going on the bench in 1973. He served as a Cook County Circuit Court judge until he retired in 1998. After leaving the bench, Jerry Burke was of counsel to McGuireWoods and a member of Resolute Systems.

Jerry Burke was a devoted father, husband, and grandfather. His passions included following Notre Dame football, the Chicago Cubs, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was an avid history buff, with a special interest in electric interurban railroads. He loved bicycling, as well as spending time with his grandchildren.

He performed countless weddings for many couples over the years. Jerry Burke was a published author and proud of his book "Black Point" which was set in Lake Geneva, WI, where he spent his boyhood summers.

Jerry Burke was a former Barrington resident and lived for the last 25 years in Elgin. He will be missed by his many friends and family who were touched by his compassion, generosity, humor, and love. 

James Rocco Fabrizio, 63, was laid to rest Sunday, February 17, 2013 at Emeritus Courtyard of Joliet. Born in Chicago to the late Vincent and Eileen (nee Doyle) Fabrizio, living in Joliet since 1977.

Mr. Fabrizio was partner of Fabrizio, Hanson, Peyla and Kawinski Law Firm for the past 30 plus years. Graduate of the University of Illinois and Chicago-Kent College of Law. Member of the Will County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Illinois Defense Counsel, Defense Research and Trial Lawyers Association. He was an avid Chicago White Sox fan.

Surviving are his loving wife of 10 years, Leslie (nee Maxwell) Fabrizio of Shorewood; three children, Vincent (Erin) Fabrizio of Lombard, Dana (Chris) Patera of Chicago and Michael Fabrizio of Joliet; his grandson, Julius James Fabrizio; one sister, Judith (Charles) Hamilton of Batavia; one brother, Robert (Shelley) Fabrizio of Wilmette; his brother-in-law, James Norka of Homer Glen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Jean Norka.

Dwight Franklin Bickel, 81, passed away on January 16, 2013, at his home in Phoenix, Ariz., following a recent illness. He was born February 1, 1931, to former mayor Melvin J. Bickel and Ethel M. (Hackley) Bickel in Trilla, Ill. Dwight grew up in Trilla and Charleston, Ill., where he married Barbara Carrolyn Alexander in 1949; they had two children, and later divorced. He married Cynthia (Gross) Petrie of Emmett, Idaho, in 1969, and they had a son together.

Dwight began college at the University of Michigan, served in the Air Force during the Korean war, then attended the University of Illinois where he earned his B.S. degree, 1955, followed by his Juris Doctor degree, 1957. After completing his education, he began practicing as a lawyer in Charleston. In 1958 he and his family moved to Boise, Idaho, where he served as Idaho's Assistant Attorney General from 1959-1963, and started a private law practice that he continued for the rest of his life.

Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow was a pioneer in opening opportunities for women in the law. She was greatly admired for her elegance, grace and style over a legal career that spanned five decades.

Justice McMorrow, 83, passed away Saturday after a brief illness.

Justice McMorrow was the first woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court and—as its Chief Justice from September 2002 to September 2005—was the first woman to head a branch of Illinois government. Or, as she put it at her swearing in as Chief, "I am the 115th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. You will notice after I take off my robe that I am the only one of the 114 chief justices who preceded me that wears a skirt."

Justice McMorrow had a remarkable legal career.

It began with graduation as the only woman in her class from the School of Law at Loyola University in 1953, continued as the first woman to try felony cases as an assistant Cook County state's attorney and culminated with her selection as Chief by her colleagues on the Supreme Court.

She served on the Supreme Court from 1992 until her retirement July 5, 2006. Her tenure as Chief Justice began September 5, 2002 and concluded September 4, 2005.

Throughout her career, indeed throughout her lifetime, Justice McMorrow assumed and maintained a strong mentor's role for women who wished to enter and serve in the law. She accomplished this always in graceful fashion, earning the respect, admiration and fondness of colleagues, legal adversaries and ordinary citizens crossing gender lines.