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J. Michael Fitzsimmons
J. Michael Fitzsimmons, the former DuPage County state's attorney who brought charges against Rolando Cruz in the murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico, died Thursday of a heart attack at his home in DuPage. He was 63.
Fitzsimmons had suffered from muscular dystrophy, a debilitating disease that attacks the muscles.
DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said Fitzsimmons would be remembered for "his pursuit of justice with honor, professionalism and integrity."
Fitzsimmons grew up near Minneapolis but remained in Chicago after earning his bachelor's and law degrees from Northwestern University. He began his career as an assistant state's attorney in DuPage in 1968. He was appointed an assistant U.S. attorney. During the Richard Nixon administration, Fitzsimmons was tapped to head the regional offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration; his primary job was prosecuting drug cases.
He made his first run for DuPage state's attorney in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980.
His indictment of Cruz in 1984 was controversial. It came 12 days before the Republican primary election in which Fitzsimmons was opposed by Jim Ryan, whom he had defeated previously. The indictment was questioned because the state had not brought charges against Cruz for a year and had no new evidence in the high-profile Nicarico case.
Fitzsimmons lost the election to Ryan, who later became state attorney general. Cruz, sentenced to Death Row for the Nicarico murder, was later freed when a judge accused prosecutors of botching the case. Fitzsimmons was out of office before the prosecution began.
Long before states began offering legal services to people who found themselves tangled in the court system, Fitzsimmons had become an advocate for victims' rights, creating a department inside his office that worked solely for crime victims.
"Along the way, he got this disease that was affecting his breathing and muscles. He was around 30, and it inhibited him from sailing, everything that was physical," said attorney Aldo Botti, a longtime friend and campaign manager for Fitzsimmons.
"He was confined to a wheelchair, but his mind was not in any way affected," Botti said. "He was brilliant, intellectually alert. Through all the pain and suffering, he always fought."
Fitzsimmons went into private practice after leaving the state's attorney's office. A dedicated lawyer, he was working on a case before he went to bed Wednesday night. He died early Thursday morning.
"He was the most courageous person who ever lived; tenacious in the courtroom and compassionate outside," said Fitzsimmons' son Justin, an assistant DuPage County state's attorney. "Everyone who came in contact with him absolutely loved him."
Fitzsimmons also is survived by his wife, Suzanne; daughters Joanne Abele and Kate Fitzsimmons; and son Joseph Michael III.
Rocco Sabino
Rocco Sabino, 83, a resident of Naperville since 1988 and formerly of Chicago, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, at home. He was born April 2, 1918, in Chicago.
He grew up on Chicago's near northwest side. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in the Aleutian Islands, during World War II. He later married
his wife, Thomasine, on Nov. 2, 1946. He owned and operated an Amoco gasoline station and car wash on Central Avenue and Northwest Highway in Chicago. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Naperville and a member of the Park Ridge VFW post. He enjoyed fishing, boating, model trains and working around his home.
He is survived by six children, Mary Kay (husband Jim) Kennedy of Redwood City, Calif., Barbara (husband Dave) Hejna and Paula Sabino, both of Naperville, Thomas Sabino of Chicago, Michael Sabino of Elmhurst and Laura Sabino of Chicago; two grandchildren, Michael and Amanda Sabino; a sister, Florence (husband Jack) Schermerhorn of LaCrosse, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Thomasine A. (Knapik) Sabino, in 1998; his parents, Rocco and Antoinette (Raganelli) Sabino; and four brothers, Frank, Joseph, John and Danny Sabino.
Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, July 13, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Dochstader officiating.
Interment will be at St. Joseph cemetery in River Grove.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Catholic Charities-Dioceses of Joliet, Office of Development, 26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL 60148.
Debra Ann Stob
Debra Ann Stob, 49, of Naperville and formerly of Dyer, Ind., died Wednesday, July 11, 2001.
She was a longtime employee of Lucent Technologies.
She is survived by three children, Jon of Calumet City, and Traci and Josh, both of Naperville; her father, Bob Kazmierowski of Lansing; and her loving companion, Richard Meyer of Naperville.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Marilyn.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Road, Lansing, where a funeral service will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 16, and proceed to a 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Knock Church.
Burial will be at Holy Cross cemetery in Calumet City.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society or the Brookfield Zoo Adopt-an-Animal Fund.
Robert W. Koch
Robert W. "Bob" Koch, 77, a resident of Naperville for the past 40 years, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2001, at his home. He was born Nov. 25, 1923, in Chicago.
He was member of SS Peter and Paul Church. He retired from Western Electric Co. after 35 years of service. He was president of the Naperville cemetery Association for the past 15 years and a member of the Hinsdale Masonic Lodge and King Oscar Lodge, where he was a past Master and Grand Lecturer.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie (Kehoe) Koch; two sons, Robert (wife Margi) Koch of Las Vegas and James (wife Barbara) Koch of Naperville; five grandchildren, Jarryd, Dana, Carver, Andrew and Abigail; a sister, June Raque of Louisville, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Delphine Koch.
Visitation will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, with a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m.
A funeral service will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the funeral home and proceed to a Mass of Christian burial at 9:30 a.m. at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville.
Interment at Naperville cemetery will be private.
Elsie A. Triebe
Elsie A. (Uhle) Triebe, 85, of Algonquin died Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, in Algonquin. She was born Oct. 8, 1915, in Chicago.
She is survived by her children, Roberta (husband Donald) Sell of Denver, N.C., John (wife Milka) Triebe of Naperville, Carol Weinhammer of Algonquin, Linda Triebe of Naples, Fla., and Richard (wife Barbara) Triebe of Wilmington, N.C.; and nine grandchildren, Brian Sell, Kimberly Keaner, Michael, Russell, Brandon and Laura Weinhammer and Kurt, Nicole and Eric Triebe.
She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Antal Weinhammer.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at Willow Funeral Home, 1415 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin, where a service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28.
Interment will be at Mount Greenwood cemetery in Algonquin.
Troy M. Cline
Late word has been received of the death of Troy C. Kline, 64, of Naperville who died Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, at Bay Front Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Arrangements are pending with Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home in Naperville. Call (630) 355-0213.
Mildred Zeman
Mildred (Klouda) Zeman, 91, a resident of Downers Grove since 1981 and former resident of Westmont, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, at Tabor Hills Health Care Facility in Naperville. She was born Dec. 18, 1909, in Chicago.
She was a homemaker.
She is survived by five nieces and a nephew; a sister-in-law, Helen Kiebeck; and several great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents, Frank and Anna Klouda; and three sisters, Beatrice, Ann and Elise.
Visitation and a funeral service took place Thursday, Oct. 25, at Toon Funeral Home in Westmont.
Interment took place at Clarendon Hills cemetery in Darien.
Gediminas Zmuidzinas
Gediminas K. Zmuidzinas, 56, a Lisle resident for two years and formerly of Chicago and Lockport, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. He was born Jan. 22, 1945, in Austria.
He came to the United States at age 6. He grew up in Chicago and earned a degree in architecture design from the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. He was a long-standing disciple with The Way International Ministry.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Althea (Barber) Zmuidzinas of Lisle; his mother-in-law, Yvonne Barber of Markham; two brothers-in-law, Lawrence (wife Karen) Barber of Lockport and Allen Barber of Markham; a nephew; and two nieces.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, where a funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25.
Interment will be at Plainfield cemetery in Plainfield.
Ora O. Trinko
Ora O. Trinko, 89, of Aurora died Friday, Oct. 26, 2001, atCountryside Care Center in Aurora after a long illness. She was born Dec. 17, 1911, in Rives, Tenn.
She was a former employee of Rush-Copley Medical Center and had been a member of the former Claim Street Baptist Church, where she served as a deaconess and Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed her flower garden and baking.
She is survived by two sons, Neil (wife Pastor Donna) Trinko of Naperville and Paul (wife Colleen) Trinko of Glen Ellyn; and two grandchildren, Kimberly and Robert Trinko.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Trinko; her parents, George and Ethel (Walker) Zaricor; three sisters; and three brothers.
Visitation will take place at 9 a.m. and a funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at Dieterle Memorial Home, 1120 S. Broadway, Montgomery. Pastor Donna Trinko will officiate.
Burial will take place at Lincoln Memorial Parkin Aurora.
Memorials contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Jeremy Todd Seifert
Jeremy Todd Seifert, 21, of Naperville died Friday, Sept. 28, 2001, in Norfolk, Va. He was born Feb. 17, 1980, in Pittsfield and was residing in Norfolk while serving in the U.S. Navy.
He was an electronic technician petty officer, 3rd Class, and was recently stationed on the nuclear attack submarine Montpelier. He was a 1998 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School and played saxophone with the wind symphony.
He is survived by his wife, Erin Christina (Giganti) Seifert of Romeoville; his parents, Edward F. and Suzan Annette (Neese) Seifert of Naperville; a sister, Jennie of Naperville; his paternal grandmother, Audrey Seifert of Arlington Heights; and his maternal grandmother, Ruth Ann Miller of Pittsfield.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Edward Siefert; and his maternal grandfather, Oral Miller.
Visitation will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 24021 W. Royal Worlington Drive, Naperville.
A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the funeral home.
Interment will take place locally.
Kenneth L. Aquino
Dr. Kenneth L. Aquino, 58, of Aurora died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2001, at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. He was born August 8, 1943, in Chicago.
He was a U.S. Army captain in the Vietnam War. He graduated from the University of Illinois Dental School and had practiced dentistry in Westchester for the past 30 years. He was a member of the American Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society and Academy of General Dentistry. He was a resident of the Stonebridge neighborhood for the past six years.
He is survived by his wife, Claudia (Hardy) of Aurora; two sons, Christopher and Michael; a daughter, Katie; a sister, Cynthia Fischer of Plainfield; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Ann Aquino, and a brother, Robert Aquino.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 1 and 2, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville.
Funeral services will take place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 1313 N. Mill St., Naperville, with the Rev. Richard Johnson officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Kenneth Aquino DDS Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Elizabeth Snyder, Leaders Bank, 2001 York Road, No. 150, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
Alice L. Hollahan
Alice L. (Valentine) Hollahan, 90, of Wilmington, Del., died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001, at Meadowbrook Manor Nursing Center in Naperville. She was born April 22, 1911, in Henry Clay, Del.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington.
She is survived by two daughters, Judy Hollahan of Wilmington and Kathy (husband Doug) Coen of West Chicago; three grandchildren, Jeff Coen of Glen Ellyn, Jeremy Coen of Bolingbrook and Chris Coen of West Chicago; and two great-grandchildren, Meredith and Liam Coen, both of Glen Ellyn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Hollahan, in 1989, and her parents, Harry and Delia Valentine.
Visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at Doherty Brothers Funeral Home, 1900 Delaware Ave., Wilmington.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at St. Elizabeth's Church in Wilmington.
Interment will follow at the cemetery in Wilmington.
Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home in Naperville handled local arrangements.
