Lawrence X. Pusateri

The Honorable Lawrence X. Pusateri Endowed Fellowship in Public Interest Law

In the fall of 2005, Lawrence Pusateri passed away due to complications from colon cancer. After his death, his wife, Eve, was searching for a way in which to honor his memory and, after meeting with then Dean Glen Weissenberger, Professor Leonard Cavise and Kevin Fortwendel of DePaul University’s Office of Development, concluded that a DePaul Law School Fellowship would be the best way to accomplish this aim.

Larry, who had devoted much of his legal career to public service, had always been proud of his undergraduate and law degrees from, and his association with, DePaul. By establishing a fellowship in public interest law, Eve realized that she would create a fitting memorial but, more importantly, would establish an ongoing way in which to support those DePaul law students who share his values.

The entire Pusateri family is honored to have been able to create the Honorable Lawrence X. Pusateri Fellowship. In its first several years, they have been blessed with a remarkably impressive group of DePaul law students who have been recipients of the fellowship. They look forward to assisting such students for many more years to come.

About Lawrence X. Pusateri

After receiving his undergraduate degree from DePaul, Lawrence X. Pusateri graduated from the DePaul University College of Law in 1953. He served as Editor-in-chief of the DePaul Law Review, graduated first in his class and was the first recipient in the history of the law school to be awarded his degree summa cum laude. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Corps in Bamberg, Germany and, upon returning home, served as Assistant State’s Attorney of Cook County (1957-59).

Lawrence then entered private practice and served two terms in the Illinois State Legislature (1964-1968). In 1968, he served as Chairman of the Defense of Prisoners Committee of the Chicago Bar Association at the time of the Martin Luther King riots. Following this, Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie appointed him Chairman of the State of Illinois Pardon and Parole Board, Chief of Legal Services for the Illinois Department of Corrections, and Commissioner of the Illinois Liquor Control Board. From 1972 to1976, Lawrence served as a Special Assistant Attorney General of Illinois and subsequently served for two years as Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District (1977-78). Lawrence completed his legal career as a capital partner with the firm of Peterson and Ross.

Active in charitable organizations, a regular lecturer and author of many articles on various aspects of the law, Lawrence also was a member of the American, Illinois, and Chicago Bar Associations, serving as President of the Illinois State Bar Association (1975-76). Lawrence was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, notable among which was the Distinguished Alumni Award (1999) from the DePaul College of Law.