Denis James Lawler, respected trust and estates attorney, dies at 72
Mr. Lawler had many accomplishments, but perhaps the most notable was the way he lived his life — with grace, gratitude and presence in the moment, his family said.
Denis James Lawler, 72, a lifelong Philadelphian and respected trust and estates attorney, died April 7 of cancer at his Center City home.
Esteemed and trusted, Mr. Lawler was known for his wit and integrity.
“He just practiced estate litigation with intellect, style and great calm,” said former District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, one of Mr. Lawler’s law partners. “Yes, he was a tough opponent and very gifted, but he never felt the need or desire to advertise his talents. He let his work speak for him.”
Born in West Philadelphia and raised in Roxborough, Mr. Lawler was the second of seven children of James Francis Lawler and Marie Lawler. His father rose from childhood in an orphanage to a career in law. Mr. Lawler inherited his father’s smarts as well as his love for the law.
Mr. Lawler attended La Salle College High School, St. Joseph’s University, and Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law on full academic scholarships.
Afterward, he practiced law alongside his father at the former Ostroff & Lawler firm in Philadelphia and later became a partner at other firms, including Archer & Greiner in Philadelphia, where he worked until his passing.
During his career, Mr. Lawler earned the appreciation of many clients. One of them was Philly Sound music legend Kenny Gamble. One day in court, Gamble felt Mr. Lawler handled himself particularly well.
As the two men walked out of the courtroom, Gamble put his arm around Mr. Lawler and said, “Denis, that was cool,” his daughter said. It was one of Mr. Lawler’s proudest moments.
Mr. Lawler served on several boards including the board of directors of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Philadelphia County. He was past president of the Lawyer’s Club of Philadelphia and a founding board member of Philabundance, the major regional feeding organization, which his former wife, Pamela Rainey Lawler, started and he named.
But for all of Mr. Lawler’s accomplishments, perhaps the most notable was the way he lived his life — with grace, gratitude, and presence in the moment, his family said. He lived — and loved — life on life’s terms.
His daughter, Kristin Lawler, an associate professor of sociology with the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York City, said that among her father’s great joys were family time at Cape May Point, where some of his ashes will be spread this summer; the beauty of light at sunset; and time spent near his beloved Swann Memorial Fountain on Logan Square. He called it his “oasis” and he loved to read the works of poets like Robert Frost or W.B. Yeats beside it.
He was delighted to see the fountain turned back on shortly before his death.
Mr. Lawler accepted life, too. A quote from the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus at the bottom of his emails gave a hint to his attitude toward life, his daughter said.
I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now; if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived — and dying I will tend to later.
Perhaps even more instructive was what he once told his grandchildren.
“He said: ‘Kids, every day has beauty in it. You have to find what is good in every day.’ And that wasn’t just platitudes,” his daughter said. “He really lived like that. The world was enough for him.”
In addition to his daughter and former wife, Mr. Lawler is survived by his mother, Marie; sons Shane and Jason; four grandchildren; six siblings; and many other family and friends.
A private service will be held Friday, April 16, at St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont. A larger Celebration of Life for friends and colleagues will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 18, at North Hills Country Club, 99 Station Ave., Glenside, Pa. 19038.
Flowers and condolences may be sent to the Reed & Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Rd., Doylestown, Pa., 18901. Donations in Mr. Lawler’s name may be made to CASA of Philadelphia County, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102 and Philabundance, 3616 S. Galloway St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19148.