Rosaire Marie Nottage

Rosaire Marie Nottage, 77, passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2025.

Once described by Chicago Tribune Magazine as a “pitbull,” Rosaire Nottage was a woman of remarkable strength, intelligence, and wit. A devoted wife, mother, sister, and aunt, she balanced an intense professional life with deep love for her family, with her humor and directness being as much a part of her legacy as her legal skill. Rosaire passed away peacefully this week after a life defined by fierce advocacy, independence, and unwavering purpose.

Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island and in New Jersey, Rosaire was a daughter of the late Edward and Dorothy Burke Nottage. She moved to Chicago in 1971. She worked by day writing federal grants and contracts while attending law school at night, earning her law degree from Loyola University. Though she once aspired to practice antitrust law, she was assigned divorce work at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, an assignment she initially believed would end her legal career. Instead, it launched a new one.

Partnering with Eunice Ward in 1987, Rosaire rose to the upper echelon of Chicago’s legal community. For more than three decades, she was a commanding presence in the challenging world of matrimonial law. Known for her sharp courtroom instincts, serrated wit, and refusal to be intimidated, she earned wide respect as one of the city’s most formidable and accomplished divorce attorneys.

Outside the courtroom, Rosaire shared a loving 47-year marriage with her husband, E. “Mike” Bauer. Together they raised their two children, Laura (42) (and spouse, Lt. Col. Kevin Williams, USMC) and Charlie (40). She was a proud grandmother to Paul (10), Ryan (8), and twins Rosie and Townes (7). She delighted in the lives of her family and fiercely supported each of them. She is also survived by her sister, Sheila Kietel; brothers, Edward Nottage and Harry Nottage; niece, Catherine Schaub; and sister-in-law, Barbara Hall and Carol Bauer. After retiring to Asheville, North Carolina in 2015, Rosaire embraced a slower pace while remaining deeply engaged with the family and friends important to her. She was a voracious reader, an avid gardener, and found quiet joy in solving the most challenging puzzles.

Rosaire Nottage leaves behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and love- a reminder that authority is earned, that one’s voice matters, and that lasting change often comes from standing your ground with conviction.

The family will plan a memorial service at a later date.