John T. "Jack" Lavey

John T. "Jack" Lavey, a labor lawyer who fought many legal battles over civil rights in Arkansas from the 1960s forward, died Monday in Little Rock. He was 81. John Thomas Lavey was born Oct. 19, 1932, in Somerville, Mass., to Francis and Theresa Lavey. He was the son of a telephone lineman and union member. Jack played football and worked his way through the College of the Holy Cross and then continued at the New England Law School. He graduated in 1957 and joined the Marine Corp., where he became a JAG officer where he tried cases for the next two years. This created the foundation of his 54-year career spent as a lawyer fighting for the civil rights of workers, minorities and the poor. From 1961 to 1963, he was legal assistant to John H. Fanning of the National Labor Relations Board in Washington. There, he met Catherine "Kay" Gallager of Auburn, N.Y. and married her in 1961. He became a field attorney for the NLRB's general counsel at the Fort Worth regional office in 1963. In 1966, he joined the Little Rock law firm of McMath, Woods, Leatherman and Youngdahl, where he practiced personal injury and employment law, mainly for the unions. In 1969, Jack participated in a small group who met at the home of Fred K. Darragh and they formed the Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was recognized for his lifetime of work protecting civil liberties when awarded the 2010 Civil Libertarian of the Year award. From 1969 to 1971, Jack joined Philip E. Kaplan, John W. Walker and Richard Mays, to form the first racially integrated law firm in Arkansas. He was chief counsel for the state Labor Department in the administration of Gov. Dale Bumpers. He hired Melva Harmon and John L. Burnett to form their own labor and civil rights practice, with whom he practiced until his death. Jack battled cancer the last seven and a half years of his life and settled his last case at the age of 81, a few months before he died. Jack was rated as one of the best labor and employment lawyers in Arkansas and the country. He often conducted labor and employment law seminars for the Arkansas Bar Association and lectured at the University of Arkansas Bowen School of Law. Jack enjoyed vacationing with his wife, two daughters and son and multitude of grandchildren. His favorite vacation spot was on a beach with the grandchildren, engaging in his playful and teasing banter. Christmas was special with family gathering together, an annual hike up Pinnacle Mountain and playing games. Additionally, Jack and Kay enjoyed traveling to various parts of the globe. If there's one word to sum up the life of Jack, it might be "dedication." His family and friends all agree he applied a level of dedication to everything he did that is matched by few. He was a determined one-of-a kind man, a true warrior who fought his battles both in court and in life bravely with conviction and passion for those he protected and loved deeply. He was a member of: Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church, the Board of Directors of the History Institute of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, The Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, Arkansas Bar Association, Central High School Museum and the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He is survived by his wife, Kay; two daughters, Meg (Bill) Phelan of Chicago, Beth (Alan) Cork of Minneapolis; a son, Mark (Tracey) Lavey of Salt Lake City; a brother, Frank (Janet) Lavey of Woburn, MA; a brother-in-law Bob (Joan) Gallager and sister-in-law Pat Gallager of Auburn, NY: ten grandchildren, Will, Emily and Mary Kate Phelan, Kelsey, Michael and Sean Cork and Jack, Sam, Matthew and Kate Lavey. A visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham Street, Little Rock. A funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28, at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church at 1003 North Tyler Street, Little Rock. A reception will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arkansas Civil Liberties Union, 904 W. 2nd Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72201 or the History Institute of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock c/o Department of History, UALR, 2801 S. University, Little Rock, Ark. 72204. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.