People

E. Lawrence "Larry" Oldfield, 72, passed away March 18, 2017. Larry was born December 21, 1944 in Lake Forest and was raised in Brooklyn, NY.

He attended Long Island University and Wheaton College. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the 3rd Missile Battalion, 21st Artillery Regiment, where he earned the nickname "Barney" as the Colonel's driver. He received his B.A. in political science from Northern Illinois University and became a Federal Agent for HUD before enrolling at DePaul University Law School in Chicago.

Larry was as an attorney for Ruff & Grotefeld, Ltd., The Hartford Fire Insurance Company as general counsel in the Livestock Department for 10 years, and in 1987, started his own firm, E. Lawrence Oldfield & Associates, in Oak Brook. He then founded Oldfield & Fox, P.C. in 2000. Since 2015, Larry was of counsel, for Stock, Carlson, Oldfield & McGrath LLC. Larry defended litigation cases involving cattle rustling and the sale or purchase of stolen or mortgaged livestock in 26 states and 19 federal jurisdictions, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He was involved in 15 reported appellate cases in the United States, including one that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the preferred legal counsel in the United States for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), and an annual speaker at their conference. He held the highest peer review rating (AV-Preeminent) from Martindale-Hubbell.

John Darrah, age 78, devoted husband, loving father of five, loving stepfather of five, proud grandfather of nineteen, and doting great-grandfather of three, passed away peacefully at his home March 23, 2017. Born on December 11, 1938, on Chicago's south side, Jack was the eldest son of Paul and Adele Darrah.

Following his graduation from Mt. Carmel High School, Jack went to Loyola University where he graduated with a degree in philosophy. Jack attended night school while working at the Chicago pipeyard. He graduated from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1969. He served as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission from 1969 to 1971. From 1971 until 1973, he was a deputy public defender for the DuPage County Public Defender's Office. Jack was a DuPage County assistant state's attorney from 1973 until 1976. Then, Jack went into private practice at Ryan & Darrah. In 1986, Jack was elected to serve in the State Court, assigned to the Chancery Division of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. Jack served in this capacity until 2000, when he was appointed to the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President Bill Clinton. In addition to his time on the bench, Jack served as an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University College of Law and The John Marshall Law School. Jack remained active in the legal community mentoring countless attorneys throughout their careers.

Ward Phelps Fisher, 91, a fifty year resident of Oak Park, died peacefully on March 22, 2017. A lifelong Chicagoan, Ward was born May 26, 1925.

In his youth, he was president of his class at McKinley High School and an Eagle Scout. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in WWII and served as a lieutenant. He received his B.S. in political science from Northwestern University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1952. He was a passionate defender of truth, justice, and freedom ,and fought in the courts and in life for social justice and individual and civil rights. He practiced law in the state of Illinois for more than 60 years.

Ward married his high school sweetheart, Rita Guerrieri, who was an educational psychologist, in 1947. He is survived by daughters Joan Carroll (Rick) of Alexandria Township, NJ; Lynn Fisher (David Kundla) of Austin, TX; Karen Fisher of Chicago; grandchildren Lindsay, Chelsea, Giancarlo and Margarita and great grandson Griffin.

A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, April 6, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 7, at 4 p.m. at First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street.

John J. Caulfield J.D., age 85, of Oswego passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017, at his home. He was born on November 3, 1931 in Chicago, the son of John Patrick and Margaret (Noonan) Caulfield. John was united in marriage on April 11, 1953 to Rosemary D'Ambrosio. During their 63 years together John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle who will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

John was a 1954 graduate of Loyola University Chicago and a 1959 graduate of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He practiced law in Chicago for over 50 years. John was a Chicago attorney for Workmen's Benefit Fund of U.S.A., the former general counsel, Catholic Order of Foresters, and the former Outside Consulting Attorney to COF. He was a member of the Law Committee of NFCA, the Illinois Bar Association, the Kane County Bar Association, the Association of Fraternal Benefit Counsel, and former member of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. John was the former secretary and treasurer of the Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly National Board and president of Chicago Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly. John served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. He was a longtime member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Oswego, where he was chairman of the Administration Commission. John was a past Grand Knight - Damen-Hildebrand Council #650 Knights of Columbus. He was also an active supporter of the Misericordia Home in Chicago, IL.