Mr. Zabel spent his career at Schiff Hardin, where the Princeton University-trained economist fell into environmental law because he was the only Sierra Club member when the firm was hired on an environmental case about 40 years ago.
Mr. Zabel, who lived in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, eventually became "one of the country's leading environmental lawyers," said Deborah Golden, general counsel of GATX Corp., who had worked with Mr. Zabel in prior positions.
"He had this incredible intellectual capacity. He knew every bit and piece of every statute, and he was able to see the humor in certain situations. He could also make things fun," Golden said.
Mr. Zabel, 67, died Friday, Oct. 17,
of lung cancer in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Bobbi Zabel said her husband loved bird-watching, hiking, skiing and hunting, taking her to some unusual places on their 1975 South Dakota honeymoon.
"We visited a coal gasification plant," said his wife, who enjoyed the trip. "And he bought me a rock hammer, and we went hunting for agates [a kind of semiprecious stone]. I thought it was funny to see the work crew's reaction when we told them we were on our honeymoon."
Among the major cases Mr. Zabel handled, he was lead trial counsel for Dynegy Midwest Generation in a lawsuit brought by the Environment Protection Agency alleging the company had violated the Clean Air Act.
He was also the arbitrator in a contract dispute between a large coal company and a utility, according to his law firm, and was able to help with father, Louis, when his scrap yard ran into environmental problems, his wife said.
Mr. Zabel enjoyed satire and was a supporter of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, his wife said.
His love of the stage came from his mother, Anne, who performed in community theater productions in Sioux Falls, S.D, his wife said.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer about 18 months ago, but he lived to see his oldest son, Andrew, graduate with a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in May.
"It was really very special," his wife said. "You savor those moments."
He also is survived by two other sons, Douglas and Robert, and a brother, William.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Temple Sholom, 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.
of lung cancer in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Bobbi Zabel said her husband loved bird-watching, hiking, skiing and hunting, taking her to some unusual places on their 1975 South Dakota honeymoon.
"We visited a coal gasification plant," said his wife, who enjoyed the trip. "And he bought me a rock hammer, and we went hunting for agates [a kind of semiprecious stone]. I thought it was funny to see the work crew's reaction when we told them we were on our honeymoon."
Among the major cases Mr. Zabel handled, he was lead trial counsel for Dynegy Midwest Generation in a lawsuit brought by the Environment Protection Agency alleging the company had violated the Clean Air Act.
He was also the arbitrator in a contract dispute between a large coal company and a utility, according to his law firm, and was able to help with father, Louis, when his scrap yard ran into environmental problems, his wife said.
Mr. Zabel enjoyed satire and was a supporter of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, his wife said.
His love of the stage came from his mother, Anne, who performed in community theater productions in Sioux Falls, S.D, his wife said.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer about 18 months ago, but he lived to see his oldest son, Andrew, graduate with a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in May.
"It was really very special," his wife said. "You savor those moments."
He also is survived by two other sons, Douglas and Robert, and a brother, William.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Temple Sholom, 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.
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