Chicago Area

George Colias, 89, founder and president of Century Broadcasting Corp., died Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in Deerfield. Mr. Collias served as a U.S. Army paratrooper toward the end of World War II and was in active duty in the Army Reserves for twenty eight years. He graduated from Northwestern University and Loyola University School of Law, and had a five-year career as a lawyer at Baker McKenzie. He then launched a broadcasting company, Century Broadcasting. In 1964, Collias and a college buddy bought their first FM radio station in St. Louis, Missouri. Over the next 34 years, Century Broadcasting, a Chicago-based company headquartered in the John Hancock building, grew its broadcasting empire playing rock, jazz and easy listening over the air waves in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, and Tampa. When deregulation loosened ownership of radio broadcasting in the 1990s, Collias sold the company's final hometown station, WPNT-FM, in 1996. Mr. Collias was a leader at the Hellenic Foundation, and an active member of Leadership 100, an endowment fund for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese that supports the ministries of the church. 

ISBA member Susan T. Bart recently joined Schiff Hardin LLP in Chicago as a partner in the Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Group.

Ms. Bart's practice focuses on estate and gift tax planning, trust and estate administration, charitable planning, and fiduciary counsel. Her clients include wealthy individuals and families, family business owners, corporate executives, banks and trust companies, trustees and executors, and private foundations.

Susan is a fellow, regent, and former Illinois state chair of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC), the leading national association for trust and estate lawyers. She was the Reporter of the Uniform Trust Decanting Act, which is now being enacted in several states. She has also been active in Illinois trust law legislation.

A recognized industry thought leader, Susan has written extensively on trust and estate law topics with more than 30 published articles and two books. She has lectured to professional groups around the country, such as the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning (University of Miami), ACTEC, the Notre Dame Trust & Estate Planning Institute, ALI-ABA, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and the American Bankers Association.

Daniel A. Weiler, 68, of Elgin, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 3, 2017 after living courageously with ALS for nine years. Dan was born in Oak Park, IL to George and Bernice Weiler on October 19, 1948. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary North High School, graduating in 1966. He went on to attend Niles College Seminary and Loyola University, graduating in 1970. Dan earned his J.D. from John Marshall Law School in 1976, and spent his career as an attorney at Law in Elgin.

He was a forty year member of the Elgin Lions Club, and among his many volunteer works throughout that time were his service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, his service on the City of Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission, and his service as the chairman of the Catholic Foundation for the People of the Diocese of Rockford.

Dan is preceded in death by his Mother, Bernice Weiler; Father, George Weiler; and nephew Stephen Villeneuve. Dan is survived by his wife, Carol Weiler of Elgin; children Michael (Jocelyn) Weiler of Elgin, Sarah (Bob Mullenbach) Weiler of Denver, CO; grandchildren Abe, Grace, Ava, Cole, Emily, Marcus, Levi, and Annie; siblings Martha (Dan) Meyer, Marian (Vic) Villeneuve, Anne (Joe) Koron, Tom (Lynn) Weiler, and Gerry (Ellen) Weiler; several beloved nieces and nephews; and his beloved caregiver Rashana Robertson. 

Calvin Kirsh, 80, beloved husband of Lois nee Levin for nearly 60 years; loving father of Pamela Kirsh (Maher Lutfallah), Allen (Jodi) Kirsh and Linda (David) Glick; cherished Pa of Erin, Cole, Corey, Kyra and Carli; devoted son of the late Esther and Paul Kirsh; dear brother of the late Sanford (Winnie) Kirsh; fond brother-in-law of Arlene Levin and Sam Levin; adored uncle of many nieces and nephews. Calvin was a prominent Cicero attorney for over 40 years. He will be missed by everyone he touched.