David Leonard Cwik, 70, of Chicago, died May 21st after a brief illness. An attorney of the first rank, Dave built a successful estate planning and probate practice from his office on North Ave, where he served the people of Galewood and the Northwest side of Chicago for almost 30 years. The son of Olga (née Budzinski), a bookkeeper and homemaker, and Leonard Cwik, a postman and veteran of the Second World War, Dave grew up in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood with his brother, Tom, and sister, Judy, attending public school and graduating from Lane Tech. He was an undergraduate at Northwestern, commuting to classes from his parent's bungalow near Fullerton and Central and working nights to help pay for his education. After earning his degree Dave went to Notre Dame Law School, and then on to the firms of Pretzel & Stouffer and Bernie Nevorral & Associates before opening his own practice. He was a true 'neighborhood lawyer' of the old school, beloved by his clients, but also an adventurous and innovative attorney who took on cases that stretched around the world and involved travel and business in places such as Indonesia, Lithuania, and (the Republic of) Georgia, among others. For Dave, the practice of law, especially probate law, presented him with challenging puzzles and a kind of backstage pass to get to know about people and their lives. These aspects of his practice were the most rewarding and interesting to him, and he relished the opportunity to become not just an attorney for his clients but also a confidant and friend.

Dave was a man of many passions – food, travel, friends, family, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, business, biking, pickleball, and his beloved hometown, the city of Chicago. He was most fully himself and at home in the world at a restaurant table with friends and family. He was a supportive and engaged father, loved his family and relished the role of "Grandpa Dave". He was a mentor for many, generous with his time and accumulated knowledge to those he believed in, and a benefactor of several causes in the Chicagoland area. He traveled widely, driven by an immense curiosity about the world. In his later years he spent an increasing amount of time in Southern California, and a piece of his heart always belonged to Lake Tahoe, but he was a Chicago man through and through and he lived his whole life on the North and Northwest side of the city. He once said that for him, "life is not either/or – it's both/and". He was both old fashioned (in the best sense) and innovative in his law practice, an adventurer and a Chicago lifer, at home in the city but also the mountains and ocean shores of the American West, a lover of solitary walks along the coast and boisterous dinner tables. He was generous and gentlemanly, stubborn and exacting but never stinting in praise for those who met his standards. He loved life, and he left nothing on the table.

He is survived by his wife Dorota and her sons, Piotr and Wojciech; his children, Bryan, Marissa, Stefan, and Jesse; his brother Tom and sister Judy; many grandchildren; and many associates and very dear friends, who he always treated as family. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, July 11 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at The Elms Funeral Home 7600 W. Grand Ave. (turn north at 76th Ave.), Elmwood Park. Family and friends to meet, Saturday, July 12 at St. William Church 2600 N. Sayre Ave., Chicago for the Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 10 a.m. Interment will be private at the Budzinski/Cwik family plot in St. Adalbert Cemetery, Niles, IL. In lieu of flowers, please instead make a donation to Dom Samotney Matki/Holy Family Single Mother's House 2456 N Newcastle Ave, Chicago, IL 60707 or to a charitable cause of your choice, or just pick up the check the next time you're at dinner, as there is no better way to honor Dave's memory than to keep the spirit of his generosity and hospitality alive. "...since you have been my guest, beneath my roof, / you need not wander anymore. You have / endured enough: you will get home again." (Homer, Odyssey 13.4-6)

For information, 708-453-1234 or www.elmsfh.com