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In Memory of Edward D. Familo
Ed Familo, retired partner in the law firm of Cavitch, Familo & Durkin, died after a brief illness on November 22, 2006 at the age of 85.
Among his many accomplishments during his lifetime, he was especially proud of his service during World War II. At the time of his death, he was among the few survivors of the battle of Iwo Jima, where he served as an Intelligence Officer with the U.S. Marine Corps. In February 2000, he was invited to speak to a crowd in Cape Coral, Florida, on the occasion of the dedication of the Iwo Jima Memorial located there, in recognition of the 55th anniversary of the historic landing.
Ed was born in Detroit, Michigan and was raised in Oswego, New York. He came to the Cleveland area at the age of 18 to attend Adelbert College of Western Reserve University (now CWRU) on a football scholarship. This led to another of his proud accomplishments — being the starting center in a 1941 win against Arizona State University in the Sun Bowl football game (one of the oldest continuously played bowl games in the country).
After he returned from WWII, he attended law school. During this time, he served as an assistant coach at Hiram College under Paul Brown, who became a lifelong friend. After Ed received his law degree at Western Reserve University, he joined the law firm of Grossman, Schlesinger & Carter, which eventually became Cavitch, Familo & Durkin.
At various times during his nearly 60-year career at the firm, he served as its managing partner and was on its board of directors.
Through the years, he served on the board of directors of a number of corporations and was president of the Mid-Day Club of Cleveland for 20 years. In 1968, he became president of the American Lawyers Company and publisher of The American Lawyers Quarterly, recognized as the pre-eminent worldwide directory of attorneys who practice commercial and bankruptcy law.
He also served for many years as legal counsel for the Association of Law List Publishers, and he was a member of the Commercial Law League of America for nearly 50 years.
During his long career in the practice of law, Ed was recognized as an expert in real estate law. He served for many years as co-editor of the Ohio Transaction Guide and also the Rabkin & Johnson Current Legal Forms, both published by Matthew Bender & Co.
Ed's interests were not limited to the practice of law. For more than 60 years, he was a member of the Cleveland Yachting Club and served as Commodore of CYC in 1964. He was also an avid golfer and long-time member of Westwood Country Club.
He was preceded in death by only a few months by his beloved wife of 63 years, Gloria J. (nee Blessing). They lived in Westlake, Ohio and also maintained a winter residence in Sanibel, Florida.
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