Wayne R. Luepker, 63, of Oak Park died of heart failure on July 1, 2012. Born in 1949 in Chicago, he graduated from Grinnell College in 1971 and from the University of Chicago Law School (JD) in 1979. In 1980, he joined Mayer Brown in the Employee and Benefits Group and was named a partner in 1986. While there, he actively mentored many associates, sharing his knowledge readily and selflessly throughout his career.

He was appreciated by his colleagues and clients for his thoughtfulness, generosity and intelligence. His expertise was recognized by the American Bar Association, for which he chaired the Executive Compensation Subcommittee (Section of Taxation Employee Benefits Committee) from 1999 to 2009. He was also a member of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, was recognized by Chambers as one of the top lawyers in his field, and authored a number of professional publications.

In his personal life, he served as a member of the Board of Advisors for Catholic Charities, an organization whose mission to provide compassionate services to those in need expressed his own values.

Wayne Luepker is survived by his wife, Doreen Berger; his children, Daniel and Sarah; his brother, Russell; and his nephews, Ian and Carl. His family will remember him as a gentle man of great intelligence and grace, who was a gracious and generous friend and a loving partner and father.