Louis Gershon, 99, a Chicago trial attorney who made legal arguments in front of more than 300 juries during his six decades in the legal profession, died of a heart attack Sunday, Oct. 8, in his Lincolnwood home. Most of his practice focused on defense work in civil cases, and he represented a number of insurance companies and trucking companies over the years. “The guy started in 1925 and never got out of the courts until he was 80. I think probably because he enjoyed the camaraderie of the other lawyers,” said his son Jules, also an attorney. “He said, `When you go into a courtroom, the other lawyer is your adversary, not your enemy.'” Born on the West Side, where his parents ran a chicken store on Maxwell Street, Mr. Gershon graduated from Medill High School in 1919. He graduated from DePaul University Law School in 1925 and joined McKenna & Harris, a law firm that eventually became Van Duzer, Gershon, Jordan, Petersen & Loeffler. Although he retired from active practice at 80, he continued going to the office every day until he was 95. Mr. Gershon is also survived by a daughter, Barbara Donna; 10 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Services have been held.
