Garland D. "Bill" Cherry Sr., 80, lawyer

Garland D. "Bill" Cherry Sr., 80, a Delaware County trial lawyer, died of Alzheimer's disease Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the West Chester home of his daughter Sharon Fieger.

Mr. Cherry was involved in several high-profile criminal and civil cases. His clients included local politicians and a prizefighter.

He was the attorney for Intercontinental Promotions, which represented Sonny Liston when he lost his world heavyweight championship in 1964 to Cassius Clay, who later became Muhammad Ali. Liston also lost the rematch in 1965.

Several years later, a Swarthmore College professor contacted Mr. Cherry to correct what he considered an injustice. He wanted the lawyer to handle the appeals of 16 teenagers who were serving long prison sentences. The African American young people had been arrested after fighting broke out at a Chester High School football game in October 1968. The teens, who were tried together, pleaded guilty to fighting, but a judge handed down prison sentences of four to 11 years for rioting.

Mr. Cherry appealed the case to the State Superior Court, alleging that the lower court had imposed "murder sentences" for minor fighting and assault. He also argued that the teens should have been tried separately. The sentences were eventually overturned and the teens were released.

"He took on challenging cases and unpopular causes without regard to political or legal obstacles," said his daughter Diane Cherry. "He did what he felt was right and set himself apart by his integrity."

Diane Cherry and three of her siblings are lawyers. "He inspired us," she said. He often told his children about his cases using the pseudonym "Harry Thorn" for his client's name. "Client confidentiality was sacred to him," she said.

Mr. Cherry graduated from Chester High School, where he met his future wife, Lucy Varano. They married in 1951 while he was serving in the Air Force.

After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree in two years from Pennsylvania Military College, now Widener University. He then earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

He clerked for a year for a Common Pleas Court judge in Delaware County and then was a founding partner with Kassab, Cherry & Curran in Delaware County.

When he retired in 2001, Mr. Cherry was partners with his son David, daughter Sharon Fieger, and son-in-law Thomas Fieger in the firm of Cherry, Fieger & Cherry in Media.

Mr. Cherry and his wife raised their family in Wallingford. They had a vacation home in the Poconos, where he and his children skied, hiked, and spent "magical" times in the summer swimming the length of the lake and canoeing and sailing, Diane Cherry said.

In recent years, he and his wife spent winters in Jupiter, Fla., where they enjoyed golfing.

In addition to his wife, son, and daughters, Mr. Cherry is survived by sons Garland Jr. and Frank; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 1325 E. Boot Rd., West Chester. Friends may call from 9 a.m.