Esther Rothstein

Esther R. Rothstein, a prominent, award-winning pioneer in Chicago law, died at her home in Chicago Wednesday, December 2, 1998.

Esther was born in Milwaukee, the daughter of Adolph and Frieda Rothstein.

She began as a legal secretary at the law firm of McCarthy and Levin in 1947. While working full-time during the day, Esther attended IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law at night and earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1949.

Esther was elected partner at McCarthy and Levin in 1955, one of the few women lawyers to achieve that level of professional success. She continued working at McCarthy and Levin until her death, excelling in building a private general practice with a reputation for client service and outstanding integrity.

Among her many achievements, Esther counted several which opened doors to women lawyers. She was a founding member and served as president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois Foundation, which since 1966 has awarded 123 scholarships valued at more than $340,000 to women attending Illinois law schools.

She was the first woman president of the Chicago Bar Association; the first woman trustee of the Illinois Institute of Technology and was a Life Trustee; the first woman director of the Illinois Bell Telephone Company; and was the first woman chair of the American Bar Association Standing Committee, leading the ABA Gavel Awards Committee for 3 years.

Her dedication in the fields of law, community service, and education have been recognized by several local, state, and national organizations. Most recently, Esther was the recipient of the 1998 Founders Award from the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women.

Other awards include the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association; the Women with Vision Award from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois; and the Distinguished Service Award from Chicago Legal Services Foundation.

Furthermore, Esther was awarded the Women's Hall of Fame Award from the City of Chicago; the Award of Achievement from the Girl Scouts of Chicago; the Distinguished Service Award from the IIT-Chicago Kent Law School; and the Professional Achievement Award from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Esther also lent her leadership skills to Director positions with the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, the Illinois Pro Bono center, and Youth Justice Institute. She also was active with several other community and civic groups, including American Judicature Society, Women's Issues Network, and Lawrence Hall Youth Service.

Esther is predeceased by her sister, Edna Rothstein, Gertrude Zenoff; brother Earl Rothstein; and beloved niece Elyce Zenoff Ferster. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lucile Rothstein; nephews Michael (Joyce McKinney) Rothstein and Steven (Waew) Rothstein of San Francisco, Calif.; cousin Gloria Meyer of Milwaukee; grandniece Sara Snyder; and grandnephew Earl Preecha Rothstein.

She was also close to her extended family, A.J. and Dorothy, Alan, Phoebe, Karen, and Jill Zenoff of Chicago; Kathryn Zenoff, Arthur, Rebecca, and Max Rettig in Rockford, Ill.; William, Sue, Margot, and Michael Ferster, Andrea Ferster, Alan Cohen, Eli Ferster and Annie Rose Cohen, Warren Ferster, Sam Ferster, and Kim Rodriguez of Washington, D.C.; and to her many friends in the law profession.