John E. Burns, 48, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern Illinois District from 1976 to 1979, was the twin brother of James B. Burns, currently the U.S. attorney for the Northern District.
A resident of Los Angeles, where he was in private practice, he died there Tuesday in Century City Hospital.
His background included graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College and spending two years in the Peace Corps in Venezuela.
Mr. Burns grew up in McLeansboro, Ill., and attended McLeansboro Township High School, where he was valedictorian and excelled in basketball and other sports.
He graduated in 1967 from Dartmouth, where he was honored as the Rufus Choate Scholar. He received his law degree in 1974 from the University of Chicago Law School.
While serving from 1969 to 1971 in the Peace Corps, Mr. Burns became a teacher with the Venezuelan Ministry of Education. He was subsequently honored by the schools and City Council of the City of Calabozo for his contributions to the community.
After two years with the U.S. attorney’s office, he spent two more years for the parallel office in the Northern District of California.
He was a partner in the firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher at the time of his death.
Survivors, besides his brother, include his mother, Betty; and his best friend, George Johnston.
Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Anthanasius Catholic Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston.
