Obituary for Daniel R. Pascale
Daniel Richard Pascale, 83, of Chicago, passed away at home on April 18, 2023. He was a devoted husband to Mary and father to Alex, as well as a former judge and an accomplished attorney, who was deeply respected throughout the Chicago community.
Dan was born on March 22, 1940, in Racine, Wisconsin as the youngest of five children of Domenic and Fannie Colette (Julian) Pascale. Dan looked up to his three older brothers and sister (Ralph, Arnie, George, and Eleanor) and remained close to them throughout this life. Dan cherished growing up in a large family. He had great love for his Italian ancestry, and he carried an appreciation for Italian food and culture throughout his life. Dan often shared warm memories of the recipes his mother cooked when he was a child and stories about his travels to Italy over the years.
Dan stood out as an exceptional student from a young age. It was no surprise when he was admitted to Harvard University for college, where he received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in 1962. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1965.
As a lawyer, Dan spent much of his career working in city and local government, holding several roles in the City of Chicago Office of Corporation Counsel. He also worked at Rudnick & Wolfe, which is now DLA Piper, and became a partner at the firm. Despite this achievement, Dan always gravitated to public service jobs, where he felt he could use his sharp intellect and analytic skills to make a difference in people’s lives.
Dan met his wife, Mary Sara McDonald, during their brief mutual stint at the same law firm. They were married on June 28, 1986, and spent many happy years together. In 1993, their son Alexander was born. Dan’s proudest accomplishment was being Alex’s dad.
Among his many professional achievements, from 1990 to 1994, Dan served as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was respected by the attorneys who appeared before him and also by the litigants themselves, who knew their legal issues were being evaluated by a thoughtful, open-minded, and scrupulously fair judge. Later in his career, Dan served as legal counsel to members of Chicago’s City Council, where he provided legal advice and guidance on issues in the Chicago community.
Dan enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He especially loved traveling the world with Mary and Alex and dining out all over Chicago.
Dan also shared his knowledge with others. He taught legal classes on the side and volunteered to be a judge at mock trials for local law students, offering them career advice and mentorship. He was an avid reader and filled the bookshelves in his home with a range of interesting and beautiful books, which he was quick to lend to friends. Based on their initial selection, friends could expect generous recommendations for other novels they might enjoy. He was also a piano player and lover of opera and other fine arts.
Dan leaves behind his son Alex, nieces and nephews, and many dear and lifelong friends.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 3 to 8 p.m., at McINERNEY CENTRAL CHAPEL, 4635 S. Wallace Street, Chicago, IL. A memorial service celebrating Dan’s life will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023, 11:30 a.m., at St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church, 1424 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, with a reception at Smith & Wollensky to follow.
Please visit DANIEL PASCALE book of memories. To express your thoughts or memories in the online guest book, visit http://WWW.CHAPELC.COM or FACEBOOK.COM/FUNERALMC. For information 773 268-0703 or 773 581-9000
Dan was born on March 22, 1940, in Racine, Wisconsin as the youngest of five children of Domenic and Fannie Colette (Julian) Pascale. Dan looked up to his three older brothers and sister (Ralph, Arnie, George, and Eleanor) and remained close to them throughout this life. Dan cherished growing up in a large family. He had great love for his Italian ancestry, and he carried an appreciation for Italian food and culture throughout his life. Dan often shared warm memories of the recipes his mother cooked when he was a child and stories about his travels to Italy over the years.
Dan stood out as an exceptional student from a young age. It was no surprise when he was admitted to Harvard University for college, where he received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in 1962. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1965.
As a lawyer, Dan spent much of his career working in city and local government, holding several roles in the City of Chicago Office of Corporation Counsel. He also worked at Rudnick & Wolfe, which is now DLA Piper, and became a partner at the firm. Despite this achievement, Dan always gravitated to public service jobs, where he felt he could use his sharp intellect and analytic skills to make a difference in people’s lives.
Dan met his wife, Mary Sara McDonald, during their brief mutual stint at the same law firm. They were married on June 28, 1986, and spent many happy years together. In 1993, their son Alexander was born. Dan’s proudest accomplishment was being Alex’s dad.
Among his many professional achievements, from 1990 to 1994, Dan served as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was respected by the attorneys who appeared before him and also by the litigants themselves, who knew their legal issues were being evaluated by a thoughtful, open-minded, and scrupulously fair judge. Later in his career, Dan served as legal counsel to members of Chicago’s City Council, where he provided legal advice and guidance on issues in the Chicago community.
Dan enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He especially loved traveling the world with Mary and Alex and dining out all over Chicago.
Dan also shared his knowledge with others. He taught legal classes on the side and volunteered to be a judge at mock trials for local law students, offering them career advice and mentorship. He was an avid reader and filled the bookshelves in his home with a range of interesting and beautiful books, which he was quick to lend to friends. Based on their initial selection, friends could expect generous recommendations for other novels they might enjoy. He was also a piano player and lover of opera and other fine arts.
Dan leaves behind his son Alex, nieces and nephews, and many dear and lifelong friends.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 3 to 8 p.m., at McINERNEY CENTRAL CHAPEL, 4635 S. Wallace Street, Chicago, IL. A memorial service celebrating Dan’s life will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023, 11:30 a.m., at St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church, 1424 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, with a reception at Smith & Wollensky to follow.
Please visit DANIEL PASCALE book of memories. To express your thoughts or memories in the online guest book, visit http://WWW.CHAPELC.COM or FACEBOOK.COM/FUNERALMC. For information 773 268-0703 or 773 581-9000