People

The Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) has announced that Diana Uchiyama, JD, PsyD, has been named executive director. 

LAP Board President Mary K. O’Brien said: “Dr. Uchiyama was selected from a number of talented candidates because her qualifications as an attorney, psychologist, and program administrator demonstrated to our board that she will be successful in increasing the reach of LAP to every part of Illinois. We are looking forward to working with Dr. Uchiyama in her new role as executive director and offer her our sincere congratulations.” 

John D. Simmons joined Califf & Harper, P.C. as a new associate of counsel in 2019.  

Simmons, born in Cedar Rapids and raised in northern Illinois, graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2003, and went on to receive his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2006.  

Ralph John Derango Jr., 81, of Swansea, died Tuesday, April 23, 2019, from complications related to heart surgery, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was born on Aug. 12, 1937, in LaSalle. After graduating from LaSalle-Peru High School in 1955, he attended LaSalle Peru Junior College and the University of Illinois. He graduated at the top of his class from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1961. Shortly thereafter, he began practicing law in Belleville and continued practicing part-time until his death. He fought hard for his clients and never hesitated to help anyone who needed legal advice. In addition to his law practice, he worked briefly as an assistant state's attorney and an assistant public defender. He served for many years as school board attorney for Belleville Township District #201, O'Fallon District #203, Central District #104, Pontiac-William Holliday District #105, and High Mount District #116.

Philip Baker Benefiel, 95, died Sunday, April 7, 2019, at home in Champaign.

Judge Benefiel was born June 25, 1923, in Lawrenceville, to Ross J. and Amanda Jane (nee Baker) Benefiel. He attended Lawrenceville public schools and the University of Illinois. During World War II, Philip served in the 667th Field Artillery Battalion at the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine Crossing at Remagen. Upon his return to the University of Illinois after the war, Philip completed a bachelor’s degree in history, followed by a J.D. in law in 1948. Returning home to Lawrenceville, Philip was elected as state’s attorney of Lawrence County and served in that position from 1948-1952. At the time, Philip was the youngest Democrat in the U.S. to serve as state’s attorney, a post contested and won in an Illinois Supreme Court case due to his having been elected prior to successful completion of the bar exam.