People

Kenneth E. Scranton, 97, of Palatine, passed away Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.

He was born Feb. 4, 1915, in Chicago, to the late Cassius and Nellie (Ducey Cleary). He graduated from Northwestern University in 1937 and from Northwestern Law School in 1940. He completed his Navy officer training at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., and was assigned to a submarine squadron in 1942 operating in the South Pacific and China Straits.

He served in various Cape cities overseas for 34 months, entering the Japanese Navy Base with the U.S. fleet in November 1945. He was honorably discharged from the Navy shortly thereafter, and commenced his law practice as a member of a leading law firm in Chicago. He eventually opened his own law practice until his retirement in 2001 at the age of 86.

He continued to practice law, sitting on various boards until the time of his death. He was extremely proud to state that he was the personal attorney for members of the Wirtz family as well as corporate attorney for Wirtz Corp. and its subsidiaries, which includes the Chicago Blackhawks.

ISBA Laureate Joseph DuCanto, 85, a founding partner of Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, passed away after a brief illness on Friday, Feb. 8.

“Joe” DuCanto, became a founding partner of the Chicago law firm Schiller DuCanto & Fleck in 1981. He devoted himself professionally to elevating the status of the practice of matrimonial law, and of its practitioners.  With his dedicated guidance and support, shared equally by his partners, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck has become one of the most distinguished matrimonial law firms in the country. Best Lawyers in America has named it the number one ranked Family-Law divorce law firm in the United States.

Mr. DuCanto was known throughout the country for preparation and distribution of divorce-tax related materials, including his annual Federal Income Tax Charts, dating back to 1977, which are used today by lawyers, judges, accountants, bankers and financial planners.

Joe was also a prolific writer, who was frequently published in law Journals, including the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. From 2000-2008 Mr. DuCanto wrote “All in the Family”, a monthly column for the Chicago Lawyer,  where he critically examined many newly issued cases, movements, trends and ideas in the practice of family law. Ultimately, a collection of those articles was published in book form.

Katarinna McBride has joined the Chicago firm of Harrison & Held as partner. She was formerly a partner with Handler Thayer, LLP.

Katarinna counsels individuals, entrepreneurs, family businesses, family offices and charitable organizations on advanced transfer-tax strategies. She renders holistic and sophisticated advice and implements tax and asset protection strategies to safeguard family assets and businesses. She represents clients in all stages of their relationships, whether it is a sale of their business, an executive agreement, or a new marriage, and expertly crafts and negotiates premarital and post-marital agreements.

Katarinna is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and is the Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates Section Council. Katarinna serves on the advisory board to establish the Illinois Masters in Estate Planning (LL.M Program). She authors the Estate Planning column for the Illinois Bar Journal and publishes for Trusts & Estates Magazine and numerous other publications. She received the Service Award for her role as Editor for the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates publication.

Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Donna M. Goelz has become a shareholder with the firm.  Ms. Goelz practices out of the firm’s Peoria office.

Ms. Goelz concentrates her practice in corporate, regulatory and compliance matters for financial institutions­­­­­­­­­. She received her B.S., with honors, from Washington University in 1981 and her J.D., cum laude, from St. Louis University School of Law in 1985 where she was the Articles Editor for the Law Journal. 

Prior to joining Howard & Howard, Ms. Goelz had extensive experience working with one of St. Louis’ largest law firms representing major banks, thrifts and related holding companies in corporate, regulatory and securities law matters. She provided legal direction during the formation of entities, acquisitions, securities offerings and other regulatory matters related to banking and financial organizations.

Ms. Goelz is admitted to both the Illinois State Bar and the Missouri Bar.