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Obituaries

  • December 7, 2016 | People
    Willis R. (“Bill”) Tribler 1934-2016

    Willis R. (“Bill”) Tribler, a founding member and senior partner of the law firm of Tribler Orpett & Meyer, died early Saturday, December 3, after a brief hospitalization.

    An unquestionably brilliant lawyer and strategic thinker, Bill Tribler was admired as a mentor and friend to hundreds in the legal community, not only in Chicago but throughout Illinois. Bill specialized in the defense of civil litigation. He was a renowned expert in the fields of professional liability and insurance coverage.  Bill was very proud of being a lawyer and adhered to and championed the highest ethical standards. In keeping with those ethical standards, Bill served on the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) Oversight Committee from 2004-2014, and on the ARDC Inquiry Board from 2004-2013.

  • November 29, 2016 | People
    George B. Collins 1931-2016

    George B. Collins never let the heat of legal battle get in the way of his old-fashioned, courteous manner.

    “George was the absolute gentleman, always,” said Collins’ law partner, Adrian M. Vuckovich. “And he also had the best sense of humor.”

    That humor, Vuckovich said, was usually directed at Collins and not at others.

    “He would never talk about a case where he was successful,” Vuckovich said. “He hated to lose, but he could make fun of it.”

    Collins died Friday at his home in Chicago. He was 85.

  • November 29, 2016 | People
    Daniel Riess 1936-2016

    Daniel Riess handled many cases as a patent attorney for nearly 50 years, but by far his best-known work was when he represented the Keebler Co. in what came to be known as the "soft cookie wars."

    Procter & Gamble Co. alleged Keebler and two other cookie-makers, Frito-Lay and Nabisco Brands, infringed P&G's 1984 patent on "dual-textured cookies," which were crisp outside and soft and chewy inside. P&G marketed the cookies under its Duncan Hines brand; Keebler's version is called Soft Batch.

    Riess and many other lawyers spent years on the case until the suits were settled in September 1989, with Keebler and the other two companies paying P&G $125 million.

    John Alex, a partner in what is now the Cook Alex law firm, called it "one of the most major patent cases of all time."

  • November 7, 2016 | People
    Stanley Philip Hutchison 1923-2016

    Stanley Philip Hutchison, 92, passed away peacefully, comforted by his family, on October 18, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Hutchison enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a business and civic leader. He was born in Joliet, Illinois on November 22, 1923, the first son of Verna Emma and Philip Stuart Hutchison. His early life was spent in Springfield, Illinois. He attended Knox College (Galesburg, Illinois), where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. During WWII, he served as a Lieutenant JG in the US Navy. Following his military service, he finished his undergraduate work at Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) and received his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law/Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, Illinois) where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi, the International Legal Honor Society. 

  • November 1, 2016 | People
    James E. Augustyn 1951-2016

    James (Jim) E. Augustyn, 65, of Chicago, Il, passed away suddenly on Sunday October 9, 2016 in a community park near his home. He was born in Chicago to Edward J. and Theresa J. (Kopera) Augustyn. He is survived by his mother, Theresa, of Chicago; sister, Donna (Patrick) Augustyn-Sloan of Lacon, IL. Jim is also survived by nieces and nephews, Samantha, Joseph, Bonnie, Christopher, Sara, Theresa and Anne, two great nephews, a great aunt and cousins. He was godfather to Samantha and Adam. He was a colleague and friend to Maria Romero and Guadalupe Martinez. He is preceded in death by his father and sister, Jeanne. Jim graduated from Georgetown University in 1973.

  • November 1, 2016 | People
    Kenneth J. James 1932-2016

    Kenneth J. James, 84, of Winnetka, IL, passed away on on Monday, September 26, 2016, at The Presbyterian Home in Evanston. He was managing partner of Kenneth J. James Partners in Northfield, Illinois. Those who knew him called him a true gentleman and kind soul.

    Born on April 6, 1932 in Evanston, IL, he was the oldest son of Jeremiah and Helen James.

    Raised in Evanston, he graduated from Evanston High School in 1950. He attended Stanford University where he graduated in 1954 with a B.S. in Economics. While at Stanford, he pursued two of his passions- joining the wrestling team and playing the drums in the marching band.

  • October 25, 2016 | People
    Edward Alan Light 1953-2016

    Edward Alan Light, 63, of Rockford passed away October 9, 2016, after a brief illness. He was born June 28, 1953, to Dr. David and Leona Light in St. Louis, Missouri.

    Ed was a trial lawyer of thirty-five years for the Winnebago County Public Defenders' Office and was a member of the Winnebago Bar Association and of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He graduated from the SIU College of Law in 1980, and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. Ed was recognized by his peers and received the Bruce Robert Jacob Award presented by the Illinois Public Defender Association.

  • October 25, 2016 | People
    Harvey A. Meyers 1934-2016

    Harvey A. Meyers, 82, of Marengo, local attorney and business leader, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Centegra Hospital Huntley.

    Born in Elgin on July 21, 1934, Harvey was the son of the late Harvey F. and Marie (nee Eschbach) Meyers. He was a graduate of Marengo Community High School, a United States Army veteran, and a graduate of Northern Illinois University and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

    Harvey married the love of his life, Patricia Novak, on January 20, 1962, in Chicago.

  • October 25, 2016 | People
    Forrest David Laidley 1944-2016

    Forrest David Laidley, age 72, unexpectedly passed away October 3, 2016. David was born in Glenview, Illinois on May 14th, 1944. He graduated from Yale University in 1966 as Captain of the Football team, and went on to be Captain of the Chicago Lions Rugby Club 1968-1970. He later obtained a Juris Doctorate of Law from DePaul University. David served as General Counsel of Archdiocese of Chicago under Cardinal George Bernadin. Afterwards, he served as a private attorney.

  • October 24, 2016 | People
    Arthur O. Kane 1918-2016

    Prominent attorney, Arthur O. Kane, a lifelong resident of Chicago, died Saturday, October 1st, 2016 peacefully in his sleep. Mr. Kane was a recognized authority in the field of worker's compensation law and occupational diseases, and was often referred to as the "Dean of Worker's Compensation Attorneys". He leaves surviving his wife Esther, nee Abrams, grandchildren Eric Steinback, Adam Steinback, Scott Slavin, Sean Slavin and son and daughter, James Steinback (Joanne) and Barbara Buskin (Arthur) and six great grandchildren. Services have been held.