John J. Place, 71, who joined Merrill Lynch Commodities in 1946 as a runner and became a vice president, died Monday in Highland Park Hospital. Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Place was a captain in the Army engineers in World War II and won a Bronze Star for valor in the Philippines. He retired from Merrill Lynch in 1985 and lived in Northfield for the past year. He previously lived in New York and New Jersey and, from 1967 to 1976, in Deerfield. Mr. Place is survived by his wife, Agnes; four daughters, Rosemary, Agnes, Mary Virginia Matthews, and Barbara Berg; four sons, John, Stephen, James, and Charles; and 14 grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 1962 Old Willow Rd., Northfield.
