SBM Blog

In Memoriam: Hon. Patricia J. Boyle (1937-2014)

Patricia J. Boyle ("Judge Patty"), the 94th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and the third female justice, died January 13 in Florida at the age of 76. Justice Boyle served as assistant United States attorney, director of research training and appeals of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, and judge in the Recorders’ Court in the city of Detroit before being appointed in 1978 to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In 1983 she was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court, elected to the Court in 1986, and re-elected in 1990 to serve an eight-year term. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan, 7310 Woodward Ave, Suite 701, Detroit, MI 48202.

Funeral arrangements:

Visitation
Saturday, January 18
2pm - 8pm
Lynch & Sons Funeral Home
404 E. Liberty St
Milford, MI 48381
(248)684-6645

Funeral Service
Sunday, January 19 at 1pm
with gathering beginning at church at 12 noon
Milford Presbyterian Church
238 N. Main St
Milford, MI 48381

Judges who are attending are invited to wear their judicial robes and be seated together.

Portrait: Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

In Memoriam: Thomas J. Trzcinski

Thomas J. Trzcinski, of Livonia, died Dec. 24, at the age of 58. Mr. Trzcinski was an assistant Wayne County prosecutor.  He is survived by his wife Barbara, and children Leah, Brett, Ryan, and grand-niece Riley. Visitation is at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd. in Livonia, from 1-9 on Saturday, and from noon on Sunday until a service at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross.

TRZCINSKI THOMAS JOSEPH age 58. Beloved husband of Barbara. Loving father to Leah, Brett, Ryan and grand-niece Riley. Dear brother of Suzanne White (Robert) and Kenneth Trzcinski. Son-in-law of Joan Murdock. Brother-in-law of Susan Murdock, Sue Anne Messineo, Anne Vrooman-Curry (Terry), Laurie Stigura, Beth Lambert and Robert Murdock (Brenda). Predeceased by parents William and Mary Trzcinski and sister Patricia. Survived by many appreciated cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation Friday 5-9 p.m., Saturday 1-9 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. until the time of Service at 1 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd. in Livonia. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross. - See more at: http://deathnotices.michigan.com/view-single.php?id=332844&token=f08f6308cdab756309425ddc8282f3eaee2a07717b9af6f555509de5c6e1dbe0#book

In Memoriam: Professor Harold Norris

Professor Harold Norris, a long-time educator at the Michigan State University College of Law (formerly the Detroit College of Law), died Oct. 14.

He was one of Michigan's most celebrated advocates of civil liberties, well known for his breadth of knowledge on constitutional law and the role he played in writing Michigan's current constitution. He was directly responsible for the creation of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and the freedom of expression provision in Michigan's Declaration of Rights.

Professor Norris received two major awards from the State Bar of Michigan: The Champion of Justice Award in 1988, and in 2011 the first ever John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award, for being an educator whose influence on lawyers elevated the quality of legal practice in Michigan. He received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Wayne State University for his outstanding contribution to the professions of teaching and the law. And he received the Distinguished Warrior Award from the Detroit Urban League for being a champion of civil liberties.

Professor Norris served as a statistical control officer in the United States Air Force during World War II. He earned his BA from the University of Michigan in 1939, his Masters Degree in Economics in 1941, and his law degree from Columbia University in 1948. He worked in private practice for 13 years before embarking on his teaching career at the Detroit College of Law, where he taught for 37 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances. Professor Norris is survived by his daughter Barbara Shawn, son Victor Norris, grandchildren Rebecca Krainig, Max Norris, and Jessica Norris, great-grandchildren Mitchell Krainig and Conner Krainig, cousins, nephews, nieces, and other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 17 at Ira Kaufman Chapel, 18325 W. Nine Mile Road in Southfield. Contributions may be made by check to the Harold Norris Endowment at Michigan State University College of Law online at www.law.msu.edu/donate or mailed to Law College Building, Room 400, 648 N. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

In Memoriam: Roy C. Hayes

Roy C. Hayes, of Charlevoix, died October 11, at the age of 73. Mr. Hayes, who headed the Wayne County Organized Crime Task Force in the mid-70's, was a 1965 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. Mr Hayes was also editor of the Detroit Lawyer, served as Charlovoix County prosecutor, and was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan by President Reagan. He is survived by his wife Jackie, son Roy, and six grandchildren. Visitation is 4 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Church in Charlevoix, followed by a rosary at 6:30 and an Irish wake. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, October 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church.

In Memoriam: Francile Anderson

Francile Anderson, widow of Oakland County circuit judge Robert Anderson and an indefatigable champion of access to justice and civic education, died September 22 at the age of 86. She is survived by four children, Sally Quick, Sue Anderson, Robert Anderson Jr., and Russell Anderson.

Family visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 25 at Sparks-Griffin Funderal Home at 46 Williams Street in Pontiac. The funeral service is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at Community Presbyterian Church, 4301 Monroe St., in Waterford. 

In Memoriam: Hon. John M. Dillon

John M. Dillon, of Redford Township, died September 18 at the age of 86. He was a graduate of the University of Detroit Law School, and was the longest-serving district judge in Redford Township history. He is survived by his wife Janet; daughters Marybeth Dillon Butler and Maureen Dillon Egan; sons John Jr. and Andrew; and 14 grandchildren. His son Andrew (Andy), also a member of the State Bar, is the Michigan State treasurer and former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.  

Visitation is 2-8 p.m.. Friday at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 302000 Five Mile, in Livonia. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Friday. Services are  10 a.m. Saturday at St. Valentine Catholic Church, 14841 Beech Daly.

In Memoriam: Dean S. Lewis, 46th President Of The State Bar Of Michigan

Dean S. Lewis, of Kalamazoo, died August 26 at the age of 79. He was a 1958 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Mr. Lewis practiced in the area of estate planning and probate, business and
real estate, with the law firm Lewis, Reed & Allen in Kalamazoo. He served as President of the State Bar of Michigan in 1980-81.

Lewis was known for his large physical stature, which was matched only by his big sense of humor. He became SBM president at age 46, and was known and loved for being the "every-day lawyer's lawyer." Lewis was a big believer in sacrificing something in return for what you've been given. He famously said, "Put something of yourself back into society . . . . Never forget to put some of what you take back into the profession . . . . Where, you may ask, 'do the time and energy come for this task?' There is no easy answer. They simply must be
found."

State Bar President Bruce A. Courtade expressed deep sadness at his passing. "The legal community has lost a larger-than-life leader who was passionate about the profession and about giving back," he said." Our thoughts and prayers go out
to the Lewis family."

Services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., Kalamazoo. Visitation will precede the services from 12:30–2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. Memorial donations can be made to Olivet College Alumni Scholarship Fund or First Presbyterian Church. For more information about Mr. Lewis' life and his funeral arrangements, visit www.lifestorynet.com.

Ed Quinnell, Remembered

Our post of July 15 duly noted the passing of former Marquette circuit judge Ed Quinnell. A U.P. lawyer, Kevin Koch, urges us to remember Judge Quinnell more fully through these remarks he penned for that purpose, and we are happy to do so:

Any history of the legal profession in the Upper Peninsula will surely feature Ed Quinnell, who recently left us.prematurely.  Ed was a student prodigy, skipping two high school grades and graduating at age 16 as valedictorian.  He then earned a Bachelor's Degree in three years and a Law Degree in three more from the University of Michigan, by age 22!

Ed served as a Justice of the Peace while he was studying to become a lawyer. He was elected as a part-time prosecutor and served for sixteen years while maintaining a private practice.  He was appointed by a senior Federal Judge as a Bankruptcy Referee and served for approximately 1 1/2 years.  He was then elected Marquette County Circuit Judge in 1974 and re­-elected for three additional terms, the longest tenure for a Circuit Judge in Marquette County's history.  While serving as Circuit Judge Ed was appointed to sit on Michigan Court of Appeals panels and he wrote many well-reasoned appellate opinions.

Ed was also accomplished  as a musician.  He was the first President of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, and often the person who set up the auditorium for performances. He played his bassoon with the symphony orchestra as recently as this past February.  He appreciated and supported the Arts. 

Ed will be remembered by many attorneys for having taken the time to encourage and instruct them in their practice of the law.  He was a tolerant and kind man who often looked out for "the little guy." Judge Quinnell has earned a respectable place in Michigan's legal history.

In Memoriam: Hon. Michael A. Martone, Jr.

The Hon. Michael A. Martone, Jr., of Rochester Hills, died August 1 at the age of 66. He was a graduate of the Detroit College of Law and served as judge of the 52^nd District Court of Michigan until December 2010. He is survived by his wife Martha Rose, and sons Jonathan, Michael and James Alexander. 

In Memoriam: Charles H. Koop

Charles H. Koop, of Bellaire, died August 6 at the age of 63. He was a graduate of the Detroit College of Law and served as Antrim County Prosecutor for 23 years. He was a member of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, serving as its president from 2007-2008. He is survived by his wife, Christine, three children, Haley, Sally and Charlie, and granddaughters Katrina, Kassadi, Peyton, and Adelyn. Funeral services will take place on Friday, August 9 at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Community Church in Williamsburg. Visitation will be on Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Social Hall in Elk Rapids. The Traverse City Record Eagle published this story and tribute. A full obituary is here.