Lawrence Irwin Frankle

After a hard fought battle with colon cancer, Lawrence Irwin Frankle, 57, died Saturday, April 18, 2009. Larry was born in Chicago on May 14, 1951 to Bernard and Helene Frankle. He graduated from Maine East High School, received his B.A. from Knox College in 1973 and his J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago- Kent College of Law in 1976. He was a member of the Bar in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and California. He initially practiced law in Chicago and in 1977 was among the first lawyers to advertise after the Supreme Court ruling that allowed attorneys to do so. His ‘Busted’ Legal Hassles ad ran once in the Chicago Reader, but appeared in the national media and several textbooks on advertising. After serving as an Assistant Public Defender in Champaign County, Illinois for a short time, in the early 1980’s he opened an office in New Buffalo, Michigan, practicing what he called “small town law,” which he described as whatever people needed, with a focus on real estate, zoning, and development. One of his proudest contributions to his community was his integral role in the creation of The Pokagon Fund, an unprecedented agreement to use a portion of the profits of the Four Winds Casino to enhance the lives of the people of the local area. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of The Pokagon Fund, served on the New Buffalo Township Fire Administrative Board, and was a trustee of La Lumiere School. Larry was also elected a Trustee of New Buffalo Township in November 2008. A licensed realtor, he was a partner in Grand Beach Land Development Company and various other real estate ventures. In addition to his professional and community activities, Larry enjoyed golf, building homes, biking, and traveling, and sharing barbecues, sunsets, and lightening storms over Lake Michigan with as many friends and family members as possible. He is survived by his beloved wife Ellen, adored daughters Jaime and Stephanie, brothers and sisters-in-law David and Rosemarie Frankle, Mark and Mary Frankle, Rick Novak and Tony Novak, brother-in-law Scott Michalove, mother-in-law Shirley Michalove, aunt Anna Novak-Heller, and nieces and nephews Nick, Lauren, Sean and Jason Frankle and Diana, Mike, Fran, and Henry Novak. He is also survived by many other aunts, uncles, cousins and cherished friends. Services will be held at 1:00 central time on Tuesday, April 21 at Sinai Temple in Michigan City, Indiana. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Stand Up To Cancer (www.su2c.org), La Lumiere School (www.lalumiere.org), or the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Sommerfeld-Smith Family Funeral Home in New Buffalo MI. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.sommerfeld-smith.com.