People

Thought you all would like to know that we just received this announcement that ISBA member Steve Baker is being honored by receipt of "The Promotion of Social Justice Award" by the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Details are below for the Nov. 9th dinner and ceremony. The award states as follows: 

"A lawyer since 1978, Stephen W. Baker has served the Illinois criminal defense community for decades both in the courtrooms - as an Assistant Public Defender and later the Public Defender of DuPage County - and in the halls of the Illinois Legislature.  He has worked vigorously for groups such as the Cook County Public Defender's Office, the Illinois Public Defender Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Steve has fought tirelessly for years against an unending tide of efforts to increase sentences, expand the scope of Illinois criminal laws, shrink our civil liberties, and keep the death penalty. His efforts merit his selection as the first recipient of IACDL's Promotion of Social Justice Award." 

Steve and other recipients will be honored at IACDL's Annual Dinner, on Friday, November 9, 2012 at the University Club, 76 East Monroe, Chicago, IL 60603.  Cocktails will begin at 6:00 P.M. with dinner to be served at 7 P.M.  

Cost is as follows: 

Gary L. Brown, 64, of Chicago, formerly of Kankakee, died Tuesday (Aug. 28, 2012). A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. today at Maternity BVM Catholic Church in Bourbonnais. Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born Feb. 9, 1948, in Donovan, the son of Dorothy Anderson and Delmar Brown. He spent his childhood in Beaverville working on the family farm, attending school and playing sports. He especially enjoyed playing baseball.

After graduation from high school, Gary attended Indiana University, where he played basketball and baseball for the university. Since baseball was his passion, he decided to play professionally for the Montreal Expos minor league team from 1969 to 1971. He graduated from The John Marshall Law School in 1976 and chose to practice in Kankakee. His legal career included work as an assistant states attorney, a private practice with the law firm of Butz, Mortell, Jaffe, Smith, O'Connor and Brown, and the city attorney under former Mayor Russell Johnson for eight years.

After more than 20 years in law, Gary switched careers to work for a not-for-profit agency, Howard Area Community Center. At the resource center, Gary structured and organized the computer literacy program.

Gary will be remembered by his family as the dad who taught his son to pitch like a pro and play chess like a master; by his daughter, Jessica, as the dad who celebrated even the smallest achievement; and by his daughter, Chrissy, as the dad who encouraged her to strive for excellence and embrace each individual along the way.

Art Martin, who died Saturday (Aug. 11, 2012) at age 64, was a nationally known labor lawyer, who often represented low-paid employees working in health care. He lived in University City, Mo.

As a young man, he was a union factory worker. He became a union organizer before deciding he could win more fights as a lawyer.

Last year, he was the only witness to testify for unions before a Republican-dominated U.S. House committee investigating whether labor laws are unfair to business.

Arthur Joseph Martin died Saturday after a morning bicycle trip near Fredericktown, Mo., with his wife, Janine Martin, also a labor attorney. Doctors later found that he had suffered a heart attack, she said Wednesday.

Mr. Martin was one of the relatively few labor lawyers here or elsewhere who represent workers.

"Unions simply cannot pay that kind of hourly rate," said Mike Wolff, a professor at St. Louis University School of Law.

Read the full obituary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Robert “Bob” Paul Revenaugh, 82, of Elizabeth, formerly of Barrington, died on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at home. He was born on March 1, 1930, the son of the late Paul and Edna (Kiles) Revenaugh. While serving on the Army ski patrol, he met his wife Helga. Bob married Helga Just on Dec. 12, 1956, in Germany.

Bob was president and owner of Professional Business Management. He was past president of the Society of Professional Business Consultants. He was a member of the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Massbach.

Bob enjoyed skiing and volunteering at Wilmot Mountain Ski Patrol. He loved music and singing at social events and church. He played the piano and banjo. He loved the peace of his farm, driving his tractors, and working in his shop.

He is survived by his wife, Helga; daughter, Barbara (Art) Garcia of Elizabeth; two sons, Jim Revenaugh of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mark (Chrissy) Revenaugh of Portland, Ore.; and four grandchildren, Dana Spoerl, Elli, and Miles and Taye Revenaugh. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Jim and Bill.

A memorial fund has been established for the Doctors Without Borders.

Condolences and remembrances can be shared with family at hermannfuneralhome.com.

Read the full obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times