Rosewell omits top aide in will Most of estate divided among kin

Edward J. Rosewell, the former Cook County treasurer who died lastmonth, left nothing to his longtime top aide, James Fuglsang, who cuta deal with federal officials in a ghost payrolling probe againstRosewell.

Rosewell's will also excludes his former roommate, Rodney Zobjeck,a window washer who became deputy treasurer and was later convictedof tax fraud in the scandal.

"No provision is made herein for my former close personal friend,James A. Fuglsang, nor for Rodney Zobjeck," according to Rosewell'swill dated Jan. 10, a few weeks after he pleaded guilty to hiringghost employees. The will was filed Aug. 2 in Cook County CircuitCourt, four days after Rosewell, 72, died in a Kankakee Hospital fromhepatitis C.

Fuglsang, who worked for Rosewell for two decades, was sentencedlast week to 24 months in prison for his role in the scandal thatcost taxpayers more than $300,000. Fuglsang pleaded guilty to twomisdemeanors, felony convictions, so he could keep his county pensionthat he has yet to start collecting. In exchange, prosecutors saidFuglsang's cooperation helped bring charges against Rosewell andothers.

Rosewell did, however, include some former employees in his will.

Richard Owens, who was attorney for the treasurer's office underRosewell, gets three Victorian-style Christmas dolls, and gets one ofeight sapphire champagne glasses.

"They were very, very pretty, very ornate. Ed had them for manyyears. It's a token remembrance," Owens said.

As for the other seven glasses, one each goes to Rosewell's half-brother, Raymond; his sister-in-law, Mary Agnes Rosewell; a friend,Dennis Hughes; and one each to four former top officials in thetreasurer's office, Richard N. Hansen, Larry Herod, Lanny Lambert andKay Quinlan.

Raymond Rosewell also gets $20,000, while Hughes also gets apicture and a Waterford crystal decanter he gave the formertreasurer.

The remainder of Rosewell's estate, including unspecifiedfurniture, real estate and money, is divided evenly between hissister-in-law and Marge Di Francisco, the stepdaughter of his half-brother, Earl Waltz.