Charles Lindell Obituary

Lindell, Charles A. A celebration of the life of Charles E. Lindell, a longtime Chicago attorney and resident of Dyer, IN, will be held at noon on Saturday, January 13th, at the Quadrangle Club at the University of Chicago, 1155 E. 57th St., Chicago. Mr. Lindell died December 17, 2006, at the age of 78. Charles "Chuck" Lindell was born on March 18, 1928, in Chicago to Juel and Ruth Lindell. He spent several happy boyhood years in Minneapolis before returning to Chicago, where he attended Hirsch High School. He excelled at basketball and graduated in February 1946, several months ahead of the rest of his class. After high school, Mr. Lindell immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division and trained as a paratrooper, and he spoke proudly of his service for the rest of his life. Upon his discharge in 1947, Mr. Lindell enrolled at the University of Chicago under the GI Bill and became the first person in his family to graduate from college. He earned his degree in less than three years and went on to attend the University of Chicago Law School. He played on the university's varsity basketball team and was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. He remained an enthusiastic supporter of the U of C throughout his life. Mr. Lindell's law career spanned more than 50 years. From his practice on the South Side of Chicago, Mr. Lindell handled a variety of cases, including criminal defense, personal injury and divorce. He was known for his competitive spirit and his sense of humor, as well as for his intense loyalty to his family and friends. He said that one of the aspects of his profession that he most enjoyed was the chance to "help people out." "He had the spontaneity of a Don Rickles or Johnny Carson," recalls John Baran, a lifelong friend. "He was so original and always off-the-cuff. Even if we were waiting in line somewhere, he'd get everyone around us chuckling and laughing - even the people behind the counter." Mr. Lindell married Mary "Merhi" Capetanopoulos in 1963. The couple raised two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel, in South Holland, IL, before moving to Dyer in 1991. Mr. Lindell believed passionately in the importance of education and encouraged his daughters to obtain as much schooling as possible. As a result his children earned graduate degrees from Northwestern, Harvard and Columbia Universities, a fact Mr. Lindell often mentioned with pride. Mr. Lindell enjoyed tennis, basketball, crossword puzzles, poker and card games, reading and travel. He journeyed to every continent except Antarctica and particularly relished his trips to Malaysia, New Guinea, Uganda, Timbuktu, Peru and Alaska. He had an intense interest in history, particularly the World War II era, and studied the subject throughout his life. Mr. Lindell is survived by his wife, daughters, son-in-law Thom Duncan, granddaughters Susannah and Cassandra, a niece and four nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Calumet Area, 511 Otis Bowen Drive, Munster, IN, 46321, the Humane Society, or the charity of one's choice. For more information about the memorial service, please call the Quadrangle Club at: (773) 493-8601.