Editor’s comment: Commission veterans may remember this quiet hard-working and gentle man who was at the old Industrial Commission for a number of decades. He was a teacher to younger lawyers and honest, diligent hearing officer. Keefe, Campbell & Associates sends our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Services will be on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at 12:00 noon at Weinstein’s Funerals, 111 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette, IL. His family is planning a reception after the burial, but those plans are not finalized yet. Anyone wishing to speak should email Norm’s daughter Iris at: iberger2@verizon.net
Donations in Norm’s memory can be made to the Community Hospice of Albany County, 445 N. Karner Rd., NY, 12205. We thank the nice reader who provided this information for the WC community.
Editor’s comment: First, on September 3, 2009, your editor lost his beloved sister, Mary B. (Keefe) Allen after a battle with cancer. She was a loving wife to her husband, Jim and four wonderful kids. She was active in her local church, Glenbrook North H.S. and the larger community. She will be greatly missed. We appreciate the many thoughts and condolences from all side of the larger legal and workers’ compensation industry. The Glenbrook North Booster Club will honor Mary’s memory and help the Allen family with the considerable financial burden associated with Mary’s illness, hospitalization, surgeries and home care, as well as ongoing family expenses. To this end, they are coordinating an effort to raise money for the Allen family at the next home Football game this Friday, September 11th when GBN faces New Trier. Collection containers will be at the front gate and at the concession stand. In addition, volunteers will be walking the stands with collection baskets throughout the game. As Mary and Jim would say, “Come for the food, stay for the game.”
The Allen Family Fund is at Northbrook Bank–all money raised will be donated to the fund set up for the Allen family at the Northbrook Bank & Trust at Waukegan and Shermer in Northbrook, IL. Individual donations may be made to this account at any time. The bank personnel are aware of this account and no account number is necessary to make a donation.
Second, we sadly announce the passing of E. Richard Blonsky, M.D., age 74, of Glencoe, a respected physician who practiced neurology and pain medicine for over 40 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic of Chicago. He will be missed by his treasured friends and extended family. Dr. Blonsky was a regular in the Illinois workers’ compensation community and a fair and impartial physician whose name was cited in numerous workers’ comp rulings. Contributions may be made to the Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, 500 N. Michigan Ave., Ste 200, Chicago, IL 60611.
Editor’s comment: The Illinois workers’ compensation community was saddened to hear of the untimely passage of one of its longtime members, Richard J. Barr of Lannon, Lannon & Barr. Rich was a passionate and hard-working advocate for his clients. Over the years, he had a number of claims against our firm and was always straightforward, honest and professional in his dealings. We are certain he will be missed.
Visitation is at 4 p.m. until time of the funeral mass at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009 at Immaculate Conception Church, 1431 N. North Park Ave., Chicago. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or Rush University Medical Center, Coleman Foundation Cancer Clinic, Suite #250, 1700 W. Van Buren St., Chicago, IL. 60612. For further information, call Drake & Sons Funeral Home Directors, 773-561-6874.
Editor’s comment: John Roddy passed away Saturday at the age of 88. John was one of the true gentle giants of our sometimes combative profession and will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure to meet and work with or against him. Your editor worked for John for five years and never met a man who cared more about everyone whose life he so quietly touched. John was the beloved husband of Peggy Roddy; loving father of Patrick (Elke), James (Barbara), Michael (Peggy); devoted grandfather of 13; great-grandfather of two; proud friend to many.
John was a founding member of the Illinois firm known for decades as Roddy, Power & Leahy. John was licensed to practice law in 1948. He taught numerous attorneys the nuances of Illinois workers’ compensation along with Arbitrators, Commissioners and judges. His extensive biography is on the web at http://www.roddylaw.com/roddy.html. John served as a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Self-Insureds Association. He was past President of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association and past Chairman of the Industrial Commission Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and Illinois Bar Association. John lectured on workers’ compensation for the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association and the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He was one of the authors of the book “Illinois Workers’ Compensation Practice” published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education in 1990.
John’s wake will be today, Monday March 16, 2009 from 3-9pm @ McGann and Sons Funeral Home, 10727 S. Pulaski, Chicago. The mass will be Tuesday at 9:00 am @ Christ the King. Internment will be Saint Mary’s Cemetery.
Editor’s comment: Ms. Wisniewski was the mother of long-time certified court stenographer Henry Wisniewski. Keefe, Campbell & Associates wants to extend our deepest sympathy to Henry and his family. Mrs. Aleksandra Wisniewski died Sunday morning, February 22, 2009.
The wake will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at Modell Funeral Home, 5725 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, Il. 60629; visitations will be from 3 p.m to 9 pm.
Funeral mass will be on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at St. Turibius Church, 5646 S. Karlov Avenue, Chicago, Il. 60629, at 9:30 a.m.; followed by burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
We thank the kind reader who sent us the note.
