Prominent Chicago immigration attorney, Mary L. Sfasciotti, passed away on Sunday, February 26th, 2017, after a long illness. The daughter of Joseph and Lilia Sfasciotti, Attorney Sfasciotti was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on November 5, 1941. From the beginning, Mary displayed a precociousness that became a character trait that often served her well as a dogged litigator. As a young child in her father’s camera shop in Racine, she would often field questions from customers who called. In high school, she became hooked on extemporaneous speaking and debate, in the process idolizing her debate coach, Mr. Davies, who told stories about his times at Ripon College with the great Spencer Tracy, that led her to Ripon to pursue her undergraduate degree. Her mother found herself a participant, often driving her to debate events and national events such as Badger Girls State. Attorney Sfasciotti went on to graduate from Ripon College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. Her interest in law was unusual considering the fact that women were not welcome in that profession at that time. She attended Northwestern Law School and received her JD degree in 1965. Finding employment as a female attorney was another matter and her first position was as a staff attorney for the Immigrant’s Service League, a nondescript, non-profit in Chicago. Her skills could not be suppressed, and she quickly moved into positions of importance. She was hired as a staff attorney for the US Board of Immigration Appeals and remained in that position from 1968-1970. Her taste for litigation led her to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Illinois, where she remained until 1974, moving to the EEOC as Assistant Regional Counsel. Her drive and zeal to do something for those good people who wanted to make a life for themselves in America moved her into private practice where she remained until her health prevented it. One of her more celebrated immigration cases involved a Milwaukee woman, Regina Bakala, who faced deportation to Nigeria and separation from her husband and friend. Attorney Sfasciotti stepped in where other immigration lawyers had failed. Her zealous defense is described in the book “Saving Regina: The Battle to Save a Friend from Deportation and Death.” She was a published author in the field of immigration law and taught immigration law at John Marshall Law School. She was active in the Chicago Bar Association and the Alumni Associations of both Ripon and Northwestern. She also found time to be proficient in Spanish, French, Italian and Portugese. This led her on many travels abroad, often with her family, but occasionally with her dear friends, of whom she had many. When bored, she would play the piano on which she was accomplished and satisfy her interests by listening to classical music and reading. Her love of family could not be measured, particularly for her two nephews, Vincent and Robert. She is survived by her brother, Robert Sfasciotti and sister, Ginevra Cuira. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 7th, at Proko Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow at St. George Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Lung Association would be appreciated by the family.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit & Sign Mary’s Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com