Richard G. French

Richard G. French, 78, died on December 26, 2002. A native of Chicago, IL, he and his wife Cornelia are residents of The Landings of Skidaway Island, GA. A celebration of his life will take place at 3 p.m. on January 4 at the Italian Village, 71 West Monroe, Chicago, IL. Mr. French, who co-founded the Chicago law firm French, Kezelis & Kominiarek, ended up trying more than 600 cases during his career. He spent 52 years as a lawyer, specializing in product liability, medical malpractice and general insurance law. Mr. French was a Naval Aviator Fighter Pilot during WW II, having enlisted as a Naval Aviation Cadet at age 17. He attended John Marshall Law School after the war although he had no undergraduate degree, but was able to qualify through GED tests and graduated first in his class. He took the Bar Examination before graduating and was the only one in his class that was admitted to the bar before he graduated. His many interests included fishing on his boat, ''On Trial'', golfing, riding his motorcycle and spending time with friends and family on their farm in Blue River, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Cornelia R. French; their daughter, Anne French Powell, their daughter, Emily French Odell; their son, Richard G. French Jr.; also by his daughter, Judge Dorothy French and his daughter, Leslie French Daniels; he had nine grandchildren; and is survived by two brothers, Charles J. French Jr., and Frank O. French and their families. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Savannah, P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.