David C. Dineff

David C. Dineff

Beloved Attorney, David C. Dineff, passes away

By Carol McGowan

David C. Dineff, a well-known and longtime area attorney, passed away unexpectedly on March 8.  He was 73.

To know David, was to love David. To his family and friends, he was the most special person.  To his clients, which are too many to count over the years, he was caring and genuine.

David always had a friendly wave to those he knew, or helped over the years.  In his presence, one had his sincere attention, and he always had an ear to listen.

David became an attorney in 1975.  His first office was out of his father’s real estate office on 63rd Street in Summit.

In 1979, his law office was moved into the old Argo Savings and Loan building on Roberts Road in Bridgeview.

In 1983, he and his wife, Suzie, moved the law office into a building that they bought at 7936 W. 87th St. in Justice, where it remains today. David loved his office being local to his roots, to keep in touch with the community and the people he loved.

David and the love of his life, his wife Suzie, first met in 1976 when Suzie was working for another attorney on 63rd Street in Summit.  David needed a full-time secretary, and she started working for him in 1978 out of the Summit office.

After a few months, the two realized they had a mutual attraction, and started dating in 1978.

“I thought he was the most handsome man I ever saw! But more than that, he was so kind and sweet and funny!” recalls Suzie.

The two were engaged in 1980, but had to put off their wedding a bit as David had a bad car accident in 1981.

“I believe it was a miracle that he survived it and the Lord gave us the time to be together… we got married in 1982.  Our daughter Christi was born in 1983 and our son David Laz (Davey) was born in 1986.”

David and Suzie, who works at the law office to this day, shared their love of animals.  If you went into the law office, you were likely greeted by Suzie, and perhaps one of their rescue cats, as the two always had their feline friends in the office.

Clients over the years also enjoyed their pets, as is often eased some tension of needing legal services to begin with.

David was cherished by his wife and soulmate, Suzie, (nee Raetz), they would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in July.   He was so very loved and adored his children, Christi and David Laz. He was the beloved brother of Alan (Jane), Laurel (Ronald Dames) and the late Louis C. and Beverly Dineff; son of the late Christ and Dora Dineff; and son-in-law of the late George and Joan Raetz. He was a beloved uncle and cousin to many.

David cherished his family and all his friends and never passed up an opportunity to go to his second home in Las Vegas, go out to eat, see a movie, catch a White Sox game, or really any opportunity to simply spend time with the people he loved the most.

Visitation is March 14 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice.  Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, with mass at St. Patricia Church in Hickory Hills.  Interment Private.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials to Triple R Pets, (triplerpets.org/donate) P.O. Box 86, Western Springs, Illinois 60558 or Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions (homewardboundcats.org/donate-2/) 2675 East Flamingo Road, Suite 3, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89121.  For additional information please call Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home and Crematorium 708 496-0200 or https://www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com

1 Comment

  1. Mary E Marler on March 16, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    So saddened to learn of Dave’s passing. He was a most wonderful friend to my late brother James C Lynch. He will always be a fond memory to me as well, seeing him at the Justice office with Suzie and in our Lockport home with James. They had such fun. My prayers for your comfort in this lonely time. Mary Elizabeth Lynch Marler.



Local News

Zach Norred, left, and Ryan Fitzgerald get back to the defensive line on Oct. 5 against Indiana Wesleyan. SXU photo

Area sports roundup: Cougars fall to national power; area golfers swing to sectionals

St. Xavier has proven to be a solid top-15 football team in the country in NAIA play, but the Cougars need a little more work when playing with top-5 opponents. Cougars coach Mike Feminis didn’t sugarcoat things when he said his team took “a good old-fashioned butt whipping from an outstanding team,” after the visiting…

Logo-St. Rita

Nazareth’s ground game dominates vs. St. Rita

Quarterback Logan Malachuk and the other skill players at Nazareth draw most of the attention and deservedly so.  After all, the Roadrunners have piled up 206 points through the first six games of the season, a 34.3 average. But after Nazareth’s 45-21 CCL/ESCC Green victory at St. Rita in Week 6, it was the five…

football-stock

Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 7

1. MARIST (5-1) Last week: Beat Providence 28-7 This week: at St. Ignatius Comment: Running back John McAuliffe and quarterback Jacob Ritter accounted for two TDs each in a strong victory over Providence. 2. LYONS (6-0) Last week: Beat Oak Park-River Forest  49-14 This week: at Downers Grove North  Comment: West Suburban Silver supremacy on…

Mother McAuley's Sydney Buchanan gets ready to serve against Marist Oct. 5 in the ASICS Challenge. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Girls volleyball roundup: Mother McAuley beats Marist to take third in ASICS

Mother McAuley’s chance for a three-peat of winning the ASICS Challenge was halted in the semifinals. But the third-place match was no disappointment. The host Mighty Macs took third in the tournament by beating rival Marist for the second time in 10 days, 25-20, 25-19 on Oct. 5. The two teams met on Sept. 26…

Solorio runners George Cortes (left) and Rigoberto De La Torre flank co-coach Robert Dron at the Sun Warrior Invitational on Oct. 5. Photo by Mike Walsh

Cross country: Solorio’s unique venue a hit with runners

Come over the bridge spanning the west branch of the lagoon at the Marquette Park Golf Course on the way from the ninth green and make a left.  While making the final kick down the left side of the No. 1 hole, there are trees on the left that have leaves beginning to change colors.…

A butterfly landed on the face of Josephine Mitre, 9, of Beverly, at Lake Katherine during the nature center's Monarch Festival. (Photos by Kelly White)

Lake Katherine pays tribute to endangered Monarchs

The ever-popular Monarch made its appearance once again at Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanical Gardens during a weekend long, Monarch Celebration. The 31st annual Monarch Celebration honored the exquisite Monarch, right at the nature center, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights, and was held on September 21 and September 22. Judy Splayt, of Tinley…

More than 1,000 runners of all ages turned out Sept. 15 for Selma’s Sweets Run 4 Peace 5k at Moraine Valley Community College. (Photo by Nuha Abdessalam)

‘Selma’s Sweets Run 4 Peace’ 5K at Moraine Valley Community College

Selma’s Sweets Run 4 Peace 5k at Moraine Valley Community College gathered over 1,000 attendees for Palestine Child Relief Fund. “When I think about PCRF’s first inauguration nearly 11 years ago, we had a great group by far, but this is the largest group I’ve seen attend this event. Congratulations,” said Mayor Gerald Bennett. Runners…

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady's SuPETvisor of the Year went to Orland Park pup, Siren, and his owner, Michelle Leddin. (Supplied photo)

Pets rule at Orland Township’s Palooza

In 2010, Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady, with the help of his own family, expanded the Orland Township Food Pantry and created the Orland Township Pet Pantry. He called it, “Crashy’s Closet,” which was named after O’Grady’s beloved rescue cat. Today, “Crashy’s Closet” has helped many residents ease the burden of owning a pet, maintaining…

swnh biz 9-29-24 starbucks grand opening

Starbucks opens on former vacant lot in West Lawn

A new Starbucks opened last week in Chicago’s West Lawn community on a lot that had been vacant for 40 years. Groundbreaking for the newest Starbucks took place in March at 6413 S. Cicero Ave. and was led by Mayor Brandon Johnson and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn. The lot was a former gas station…

Besides the varieties of meat Fogo de Chao is famous for, the restaurants offer sumptuous salad bars. (Supplied photo)

Comings & Goings: Fogo de Chao coming to Orland Park

Fogo de Chao, the Brazilian steak house known for servers carrying slabs of meat on long skewers from table to table, announced last week that it had signed a lease to open a new restaurant in Orland Park. The new location at 15407 S. LaGrange Road would be the chain’s fifth Chicagoland restaurant. The 6,791-square-foot…

Neighbors

Student volunteers help unload the pumpkins for the UMC Pumpkin Patch in 2022. (File photo)

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to open Pumpkin Patch this weekend

Every year about now, the First United Methodist Church of Oak Lawn celebrates the season by trucking in thousands of orange gourds for its Pumpkin Patch. People look forward to the return of the Pumpkin Patch, which this year runs from October 13 to October 31 on the church grounds at 100th Street and Central…

Mike Balasa, of Evergreen Park, along with his children, Ben, 4, and Olivia, 8, and his wife, Jasmine, at the Worth Park District's Fall Fest on Sunday. (Photos by Kelly white)

Worth Fall Fest ushers in the season

Fall is in the air. The Worth Park District welcomed the season with its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Gale Moore Park, 109th Street and Nordica Avenue, Worth. “Getting everyone out in the community to enjoy what we offer makes me really happy,” said Stephanie Analitis, superintendent of recreation for the Worth…

Sean Walsh

Palos Park’s Walsh skates for injured first responders at 911 Cup

Palos Park Officer Sean Walsh spent this past weekend in Las Vegas with his skates laced up and participating in the Las Vegas 911 Cup. The 911 cup is a fundraising event supporting police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and EMTs injured in the line of duty. Officer Walsh’s hockey team, Level Zero Heros, played teams…

reporter 2-2-24 oak lawn police logo

Chicago man charged in Oak Lawn carjacking

A Chicago man has been charged with carjacking a vehicle from a female teenager in the parking lot of the Jewel-Osco at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave. on Sept. 28, police said. Police said a female teenager was parked and sitting inside her vehicle in the Jewel-Osco parking lot when a man with dreadlocks, wearing a…

Rick, Jake and Care Herpich, of Oak Lawn, stand in front of their elaborate Halloween display, Krazy Korner. (Supplied photos)

Herpich family’s epic Halloween decorations aim to scare

Care and Rick Herpich moved to Oak Lawn in 2001 with their son, Jake. It was then that the family began what would become an elaborate Halloween tradition, with their display growing more frightening each year. It is now known in the neighborhood as the Krazy Korner. Over the past two decades, the Herpich family’s…

evergreen park logo

Evergreen Park approves disaster prevention plan

The threat that hazards and disasters pose to residents and property has been recognized by Evergreen Park officials. A resolution was approved by a 6-0 margin during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night, acknowledging the importance of reducing or eliminating vulnerability to disasters. The U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act on Oct.…

The iconic sign outside Petey's Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge can be seen at the corner of 95th Street and Kostner Avenue. The restaurant, which opened in 1961, will close after Tuesday, Oct. 15. (Photo by Joe Boyle)

After 63 years, Petey’s Bungalow in Oak Lawn prepares for last supper

After 63 years, a popular Oak Lawn restaurant will close its doors for the last time. Petey’s Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge, 4401 W. 95th St., will cease operations after Tuesday, Oct. 15. The restaurant, a local fixture known as a classic supper club, has been at the same location since 1961. In a Facebook post,…

ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology is non-operational throughout the city, including a device on a corner near Ald. Raymond Lopez’s 15th Ward office. According to the City of Chicago data portal, ShotSpotter detected 1,025 rounds fired citywide between Sept. 15 and 22, 2024. (Photo by Robin Sluzas)

Local aldermen rip mayor over ShotSpotter cancellation

After the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance giving Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the authority to extend ShotSpotter technology, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s February 2024 promise to turn off the monitors set up a battle with a majority of aldermen. Three Southwest Side aldermen spoke to the Greater Southwest News-Herald about why ShotSpotter technology should…

Family and furry companions join in a circle for prayer and song at Palos United Methodist Church. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Palos United Methodist Church hosts pet blessing

It was a lively occasion as a pair of Great Danes, a cat named Gus, and an elderly Beagle-Lab mix named Seamus were among the four-legged attendees gathered Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6, at Palos United Methodist Church for the annual pet blessing celebrating the Feast of St. Francis. Pastor Caitlyn Nesbit led the ceremony at…

Outgoing Orland Park Village Manager George Koczwara (left) and new interim manager Jim Culotta talk before the Oct. 7 village board meeting. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Orland Park names interim village manager and assistant

Orland Park Assistant Village Manager Jim Culotta will take over as the interim village manager and former police deputy chief Brian West will take his place as interim assistant. The board of trustees made those decisions during the Oct. 7 meeting in the wake of village manager George Koczwara’s resignation after his contact was set…