Jerome Mirza, 69, Bloomington died at 6:33 pm Friday, October 12, 2007 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.

Funeral services will be at 5:30 pm Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at Illinois Wesleyan University Evelyn Chapel, located at 1301 N. Park St., Bloomington, IL. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:15 pm Wednesday also at the church. Private burial will be at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Mirza was born November 3, 1937 in Chicago, IL, the son of Joseph and Martha Pera Mirza. They precede him in death.

Surviving are his life partner, Debbie Peters, Bloomington, IL one daughter, Candace Mirza, Wilmette, IL, and two grandchildren, Anna and Jerry Janczy. Other survivors include the Peters family, Danforth, IL, the Sayad family, San Mateo, CA, the Ganja/Hoover families, Wilmette, IL, the Benyamin/Taimoorazy families, Bloomington, and the Rorig family, Glenview, IL.

In 1960 Mr. Mirza received his Bachelor of Speech degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington. In 1963 he obtained his Degree of Law from the University of Illinois, Urbana. As an attorney he operated the Jerome Mirza and Associates Law Offices specializing in personal injury cases. His offices were located in Bloomington and Chicago. He served as past president of the Illinois State Bar Association and had been past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He was a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and had authored numerous books on Illinois personal injury law. He founded the Jerome Mirza College of Advocacy at Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois.

The family suggests memorials be given to the ARDS Foundation or to the American Heart Association.