Retired corporate executive Maurice J. O'Brien of Northfield, a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law, died Jan. 29 at age 79 in the Hospice of the North Shore after a stroke.
Mr. O'Brien served in the Army during World War II before completing college studies. He joined the sales department of Marblehead Lime Co., a subsidiary of the Material Service Corp., in 1960 and became president within six years.
After retiring in 1984, Mr. O'Brien founded Arnel Inc., a real estate management firm in Evanston. He served on DePaul's board of lay trustees.
James Reilley
Arlington Heights attorney James William Reilley died Jan. 16 at age 61 of a heart attack in Northwest Community Hospital, where he was to have gallbladder surgery.
Mr. Reilley graduated from The John Marshall Law School in 1969, taking classes at night while operating the NBC Collection Agency by day. He prosecuted narcotics cases for the Cook County state's attorney until 1973, when he entered private practice in Chicago.
Manuel Robbins
Chicago attorney Manuel Joel Robbins died Jan. 27 at age 87 of heart disease in the Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of North Shore.
Mr. Robbins attended rabbinical school and the DePaul University College of Law simultaneously, then opted for a law career and graduated in 1941. He served in the Army in Europe during World War and later was chief Army attorney in San Francisco.
Returning to Chicago, Mr. Robbins had a sole practice until 1973, when he became a partner in Robbins, Coe, Rubinstein & Schaffron, now Robbins, Salomon & Patt.
Survivors include a son, Chicago attorney Michael D. Robbins.
James Rodgers
Eldorado attorney James Louis Rodgers Jr., a Harrisburg resident, died Dec. 24 at age 50 in Carbondale Memorial Hospital after a heart attack.
A 1981 graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law, Mr. Rodgers served as Saline County public defender in addition to his law practice. He was a board member of the Southeastern Illinois Crisis Pregnancy Center, the Baptist Children's Home and the Eldorado Library.
Alton Sharpe
Former Chicago attorney Alton Sharpe, who followed a second career as a nationally known magician, died Dec. 21 at age 83 in Laguna Hills, Calif., of a brain hemorrhage. He was the publisher of the journal, Sharpe's Ollapodrida, and the author of several books on magic techniques.
A 1955 graduate of The John Marshall Law School who had been an Army entertainer in Europe during World War II, Mr. Sharpe had a civil law and tax practice in addition to owning the Al Sharpe Studio of Magic.
He was retained in 1960 by the American Guild of Variety Artists to combat corruption in branch offices in Dallas, St. Louis and Denver. He subsequently became a partner with a Chicago law firm in airline labor relations. He retired from Cornfield & Feldman in 1983.
Harry Stark
Retired Cook County judge Harry Stark died Jan. 29 at age 99. Born in Birkenhead, England, he entered the Chicago-Kent College of Law at age 17 and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1926.
Mr. Stark had a private practice until his election to the circuit court in 1966. He served for 20 years.
Arnold Streich
Arnold J. Streich of Chicago, retired assistant counsel of the American Medical Association, died in January at age 93. He was a veteran of military service during World War II.
Ronald Sweikar
Retired Danville attorney Ronald A. Sweikar, a Carbondale resident, died Dec. 28 at age 52 after being treated for 22 years for permanent brain injuries due to suffering meningitis-encephalitis in 1982.
A 1977 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, Mr. Sweikar practiced with Bates & Davis and Gunn & Hickman.
Richard Walsh
Chicago attorney Richard A. Walsh, a former state legislator, died Jan. 26 at age 74 of heart failure in his River Forest home. He was a partner in McCracken, Walsh & de LaVan.
A 1954 graduate of the Loyola University School of Law, Mr. Walsh formed the law firm with his longtime friend Thomas J. McCracken and served for three years as a Naval Reserve legal officer.
Mr. Walsh was elected to the Illinois House in 1962 and served until 1974. He was elected to the Senate in 1976 and left the General Assembly in 1982.
Robert Weissmiller
Retired Mount Carroll attorney Robert W. Weissmiller died Dec. 30 at age 86 after the car he was driving left the road and rolled over. A 1947 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law, he was an Army captain in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II.
Mr. Weissmiller was Mount Carroll city attorney from 1950 to 1952 and Carroll County state's attorney from 1952 to 1956. He served on the Illinois Board of Public Aid Commissioners from 1963 to 1969.
A former member of the Mount Carroll Public School Board and Library Board, Mr. Weissmiller was a trustee of Shimer College from 1955 to 1975. He helped establish the Timber Lake Playhouse in 1962 and served on its board.
Survivors include a son, David W. Weissmiller of Mount Carroll, a law partner until Robert Weissmiller's retirement in 1997.
Edward Youhas
Retired Chicago attorney Edward R. Youhas, a Homewood resident, died Dec. 11 at age 81 in South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, after a heart attack. A Marine Raider in the South Pacific during World War II, he received the Purple Heart.
Mr. Youhas was an adjuster for the Maryland Casualty Co. in Chicago while he attended The John Marshall Law School. He graduated in 1970 and had a solo practice that included being a founder and counsel to the U.S. Marine Raiders Association of Chicago.
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