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[caption id="attachment_18547" align="alignright" width="150" caption="George J. Cotsirilos"][/caption] Longtime Chicago criminal defense attorney George J. Cotsirilos died on Sunday, March 27 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Mr. Cotsirilos was a fledgling assistant state’s attorney in 1949, when 19-year-old Ruth Steinhagen — a “6-foot typist brunette” in that era’s hardboiled newspaper parlance — stalked Waitkus and shot the former Cub at the old Edgewater Beach Hotel. Waitkus survived despite being hit in the chest with a bullet from a .22-caliber rifle. Mr. Cotsirilos helped question Steinhagen, who reportedly told investigators: “I just wanted something exciting in my life. . . . I didn’t want to go back to typing.” Click here to read the full obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times

[caption id="attachment_18380" align="alignright" width="143" caption="James R. Carr"][/caption] The Law Offices of Paul F. O’Keefe, P.C. are pleased to announce that James R. Carr, formerly of Holland & Knight, LLP, has joined the firm as partner and the name of the firm has been changed to O’Keefe & Carr, P.C. Mr. Carr will join the Firm’s civil trial practice concentrating in the areas of Land Use, Zoning, Government Representation, Construction Law, and Commercial Real Estate Litigation. The firm will continue to practice law in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Probate and Estate Planning. He received his bachelors and juris doctor degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Carr can be reached at jcarr@okeefecarr.com

[caption id="attachment_18352" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Giles M. Walsh"][/caption] The law firm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. is pleased to announce Giles M. Walsh has joined the Firm’s Corporate Practice Group as an Associate. Walsh focuses on representing clients in a variety of transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity investments and securities transactions. Walsh also counsels clients in general business matters including business formation, planning and operational issues. Walsh received his Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2008 where he graduated with high honors, Order of the Coif.  He received his bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois in 2005. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois. Greensfelder offers comprehensive legal solutions in 16 practice groups for clients locally, nationally and internationally including, communications and media; construction; corporate; creditor’s rights and bankruptcy; educational; religious and tax-exempt organizations; employee benefits; environmental; franchising & distribution; health care; immigration; intellectual property and technology; labor and employment; litigation; real estate; tax; and trusts and estates. Find out more at www.greensfelder.com.

[caption id="attachment_18253" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John Olivero"][/caption] John Olivero, 86, of Peru, IL, a devoted family man, passed away quietly on March 1, 2011 at Illinois Valley Community Hospital, Peru, IL. Mr. Olivero was born on August 18, 1924 and was raised in Dalzell. He graduated from Hall Township High School, Spring Valley and then entered LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College. While attending college, John was drafted into military service during World War II. He served in General Patton’s 3rd Army during the historic race to Berlin in the 1944/45 Campaigns. He was a Sergeant and Heavy Machine Gun Operator in the 242nd Regiment of the 42nd Rainbow Division of the 3rd Army. His service lasted almost 4 years and included combat in France, Germany, Austria and Italy. He received decorations for his campaigns in France and Germany. His service ended as part of the U.S. occupational force in Austria after the fighting ended. Like most World War II Veterans, he rarely talked about his service but he participated in Veteran’s Day ceremonies with his son, John Paul, who is also a Veteran, at his granddaughter Shana’s grade school and also spoke to her class. After serving our country, John re-entered and graduated from L.P.O. Junior College. John then attended the University of Illinois-Champaign, where he graduated with a law degree on June 18, 1950 and became licensed as an attorney on November 29, 1950. For more than 55 years John was devoted to the practice of law in his offices in Peru and Tonica, where his daughter, Lisa, who is also an attorney, joined him in 1982. He was an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the LaSalle County Bar Association. John was honored by the Illinois State Bar Association in 2000 for 50 years of distinguished service as an attorney. John served on the Board of Directors of the Illini State Bank in Tonica, Lostant and Oglesby for 22 years, which he enjoyed immensely.