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Northwestern Law graduate Joan Lefkow (JD '71) lost her husband, Michael Lefkow (JD '66), and her mother, Donna Grace Humphrey, in a tragic slaying at her home on Monday.  According to the Chicago Tribune, the police are conducting investigations and have issued cautions about drawing any conclusions at this time.

After graduating from Northwestern Law, Mike and Joan worked in legal services for many years. Joan is a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, and Mike was an attorney in private practice. The couple married in 1975 and have four daughters.

Mike was a stalwart of the early legal services movement and was a highly respected expert in welfare law. He and Joan shared a passion for providing legal services to the poor. Mike was an inspiration to the many young legal services lawyers who worked with him and to the many members of Chicago's legal community who shared his vision for improvements in our justice system. Mike worked tirelessly for his clients and for the many good causes that he and Joan supported.

Mike was also an enthusiastic alumnus of the Law School. It was always a pleasure to see Mike and Joan at the many Law School events that they attended over the years. The Law School extends our deepest condolences to Joan and her family.

The Lefkow family has requested that contributions in Mike's memory be directed to the Law School's Public Service Fellowships Program.

Please direct contributions to:

Northwestern University School of Law
Office of Development
357 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-3069

Write "Public Service Fellowships Program - Lefkow Memorial" in the memo line of the check. 

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