FRANK CICERO

1935 - 2024

CICERO--Frank Jr. With great sadness, we announce the death of Frank Cicero, Jr., age 88, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother. Known as an accomplished trial attorney and historian, he was also a lover of the American West, fine food and wine, and a devotee of lifelong learning. Surrounded by his loving family, Frank died February 25, 2024 in the historic home he loved so much. We will miss his tenacious spirit, loving heart, and intellectual prowess. First in his family to go to high school or college, Frank was born in Chicago in 1935 to Italian- American parents, Frank, Sr. and Mary Balma Cicero. His two sets of grandparents emigrated from Italy; one couple were Protestant Waldensians from the Alps and the other were Catholic Sicilians. In retirement Frank devoted himself to understanding his parents' different Italian backgrounds. With the curiosity of a trial lawyer making a case, he dug into his heritage and exploration of Italian Protestants. As such, he enjoyed his period as a trustee of the American Waldensian Society, and he completed his first book, Relative Strangers: Italian Protestants in the Catholic World (Academy Chicago Publishers, 2011). A Lyons Township High School debate state champion, one of his most proud accomplishments was serving in the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, which drafted the state's most recent constitution in 1969-1970. His lifelong love of state history and policy remained and inspired him to write Creating the Land of Lincoln: The History and Constitutions of Illinois 1778-1870, (University of Illinois, 2018). In recognition of the book's contribution to the study of Illinois history, the Illinois State Historical Society honored his work with the Russell P. Strange Book of the Year Award in 2019. During his exploration into this neglected area of Illinois history, he enjoyed research trips to Springfield, along with his tenure on the Board of Newberry Library in Chicago. Frank went to Amherst College and graduated from Wheaton College (AB, Political Science, 1957). He married childhood friend Jan Pickett in 1959, enrolled at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School (MPA, 1962) and the University of Chicago Law School (JD, 1965). The Kirkland & Ellis law firm hired Frank in 1965, and he remained active with the firm for more than five decades as a litigator, partner, and senior partner. He handled major civil and criminal trials in U.S. federal and state courts as well as international arbitrations and litigations. His cases ranged from antitrust and trade regulation to environmental issues to trademark claims. Many of his colleagues cite his mentorship and strategic thinking as integral to their career development and professional knowledge of the field of law. As an effective leader in the firm, Frank was integral in building Kirkland & Ellis' international reputation and presence. In 1975, Frank was lead counsel representing the Chicago Afro-American Patrolmen's League (AAPL) and Renault Robinson in a civil suit (United States v. City of Chicago, 395 F. Supp. 329) against the Chicago Police Department charging violations of First Amendment rights and race discrimination. Frank won damages and injunctions in the case which resulted in judgments against the City and reform of police hiring and promotion practices locally and across the nation. Beginning in 1978, he began conducting fact finding across the world in the case of the Amoco Cadiz oil spill off the coast of France, tried both the liability and damages phases of that massive litigation, and argued the various appeals in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. On behalf of respondents in Free et al vs Abbott Laboratories, Inc. et al, an antitrust case, he argued an appeal in the US Supreme Court in 2000. Frank was a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers as well as the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and represented many of Kirkland's largest clients. Frank spent his adult life in pursuit of the perfect view, and spent extensive time developing friendships and experiences in Arizona, Colorado, France, and Italy. A trustee of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center and the Nature Conservancy of Colorado, he cherished time with his family studying the Four Corners region, and skiing and hiking Rocky Mountain trails. His work, lineage study, and family friendships took him to France and Italy, and he spent much time pursuing language expertise. He enjoyed sitting on his historic wooden porch, engaged in French, Italian, and historic preservation conversations with scholars and those whom he dearly loved. In addition, through their travels over their lifetime together, he and Jan grew as food and wine connoisseurs. Jan Cicero, his beloved wife of 65 years, survives him, along with his sister Nancy and sister-in-law June. Frank also leaves behind his cherished next generations to carry on his memory and legacy. He was the proud father of two daughters, Erica and Caroline; father-in-law of Edward Chrapla and Craig Detweiler; and loving and devoted grandfather to Zoe Detweiler, Theo Detweiler, and Leo Chrapla. He relished time visiting with and encouraging his grandchildren. Taking them to visit his ancestral homelands was an important step in his retirement and in his own life-review. His brother James and parents Frank, Sr. and Mary preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a non-profit he loved dearly: Crow Canyon Archeological Center or Newberry Library. A celebration of Frank Cicero's life will be in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, 1427 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, May 18, 2024 at 3:00.