Patent lawyers mourn colleagues' deaths

'It's just a true tragedy and loss to us all'

Chicago's patent lawyers began to learn Saturday the names of their colleagues -- Michael McKenna and Allen Hoover -- killed in the shooting Friday evening at the offices of Wood Phillips.

"Oh no, not Allen Hoover!" said Roy Hofer, partner in the city's largest intellectual property firm, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione. "He's well-known within the patent and intellectual property community. This is chilling. This is unbelievable."

Lawyers who usually have the most to fear from angry clients are those who handle divorce and child custody disputes, Hofer said. Patents generally don't inflame people.

"Our hearts go out to the families of these attorneys," said Chicago Bar Association President Kevin Durkin. "It's just a true tragedy and loss to us all."

The list of inventions McKenna midwifed is wild and unpredictable. In September, he won a patent for a device that uses sound to disperse mosquitos. In July came a patent for a body board that uses curves to help adventurers ride the waves better. He patented a process to make railroad crossties from used tires.

McKenna, 58, rebounded from tragedy five years ago when his first wife, Pam, with whom he had three children, died unexpectedly. He later married Suzanne Malec, a deputy city commissioner. They had a young son and were expecting another child, said partner Dean Monco.

"He was a very jovial individual," Monco said. "He was an avid bicycle rider. He used to do rides for AIDS benefits. He did some benefits for a children's hospital in Israel. ... He's just a wonderful guy."

His family issued a statement Saturday calling him "a loving father, grandfather and husband" and thanking the Chicago Police and Stroger Hospital staff.

In 20 years with Wood Phillips, Allen Hoover was "enormously dedicated and a passionate advocate for his clients," his firm said Saturday.

"Allen was very generous and ever willing to share his wisdom and experiences in the law. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend to those with whom he associated. He will be greatly missed," the firm said.

Edie Erkert fondly recalled how on her first day at the firm, Hoover "welcomed me to the office heartily and took me to lunch with several of the partners." Hoover took her to every restaurant in the area, talking proudly about his son Allen E. Hoover, also a patent attorney.

Hoover, 65, lived in Wilmette with his wife, Louise, a Chicago Public Schools teacher. He previously was chief patent counsel for Chemetron Corp. and Sunbeam.

Wood Phillips said the firm will be closed Monday for grief counseling.