People

Hon. Angelo D. Mistretta, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011; beloved husband and best friend of Ruth A., nee Welter, for 59 years; loving father of Mark (Diane) and Scott Mistretta; proud grandfather of Matthew and Jason; born to the late Rosario and Maria Mistretta, on Feb. 16, 1925, in Chicago (old Taylor Street neighborhood). Angelo was an inspiring uncle to many and a friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing him; brother of Josephine Vullo, and the late Michelina Strazzantti, Bella Boulahanis, Salvatore Mistretta and Jeannie Hamza. Angelo served in WWII and after the war graduated from Valparaiso University Law School. He began his career as a Cook County state's attorney, and then went on to head his own private law practice, before being elected as a full circuit court judge. Following retirement he continued working in arbitration and mediations. He was a former president of the Justinian Society and a member of SACA. Angelo embraced his Italian and Sicilian heritage, and shared it with his family. Angelo's work ethic, unrivaled wit and great emphasis on family and friends are all characteristics to be admired. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at Coglianese Funeral Home, 7508 County Line Rd., Burr Ridge (south of I55 on Frontage Rd.). Funeral service 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, at the funeral home. Interment will be Bronswood Cemetery, Oakbrook. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to your charity of choice. Info: (630) 654-8484.

[caption id="attachment_18665" align="alignright" width="140" caption="Robert F. Russell"][/caption] Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. has elected Attorney Robert F. Russell of Princeton, Ill., as the chairman of its board of directors. Russell is a partner in the Princeton law firm Russell, English, Scoma & Beneke. He is the third generation of Russells to practice law in Princeton, following his father, Fred G. Russell, and his grandfather, Judge R. L. Russell, who first opened his office in Princeton in 1897. ATG is widely known as an advocate for both lawyers and the clients they serve. Subsidiary companies owned and operated by ATG include:  ATG Legal Education, LLC; ATG LegalServe; ATG Trust Company; The Judicial Sales Corporation; and NLT Title, LLC. “It is my goal to maintain ATG’s industry-wide reputation as the premier lawyer service organization for both the legal profession and for the public,” Russell said. “We have the right people to ensure we continue providing unsurpassed service to attorneys and their clients. Being chosen to lead this complex and innovative company during a time of extreme uncertainty in the national real estate market is a true honor.  I look forward to working with our management team and my fellow board members to meet and surmount the challenges that face us.” Peter J.

[caption id="attachment_18547" align="alignright" width="150" caption="George J. Cotsirilos"][/caption] Longtime Chicago criminal defense attorney George J. Cotsirilos died on Sunday, March 27 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Mr. Cotsirilos was a fledgling assistant state’s attorney in 1949, when 19-year-old Ruth Steinhagen — a “6-foot typist brunette” in that era’s hardboiled newspaper parlance — stalked Waitkus and shot the former Cub at the old Edgewater Beach Hotel. Waitkus survived despite being hit in the chest with a bullet from a .22-caliber rifle. Mr. Cotsirilos helped question Steinhagen, who reportedly told investigators: “I just wanted something exciting in my life. . . . I didn’t want to go back to typing.” Click here to read the full obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times

[caption id="attachment_18380" align="alignright" width="143" caption="James R. Carr"][/caption] The Law Offices of Paul F. O’Keefe, P.C. are pleased to announce that James R. Carr, formerly of Holland & Knight, LLP, has joined the firm as partner and the name of the firm has been changed to O’Keefe & Carr, P.C. Mr. Carr will join the Firm’s civil trial practice concentrating in the areas of Land Use, Zoning, Government Representation, Construction Law, and Commercial Real Estate Litigation. The firm will continue to practice law in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Probate and Estate Planning. He received his bachelors and juris doctor degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Carr can be reached at jcarr@okeefecarr.com