Dan Gravelyn 1951 - 2010
GRAVELYN - Daniel R. Gravelyn, age 51, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2010, after a hope-filled and courageous battle with leukemia in the loving arms of his devoted wife, Karen, and surrounded by family. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 17th at O'Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. SE from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Dan's life will be celebrated on Monday, October 18th at Ada Congregational Church, 6330 Ada Dr. SE at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Gary Burdick, officiating. (from the obituary)
Barnes & Thornburg Remembers the Life of Partner Daniel R. Gravelyn
Attorneys and staff at Barnes & Thornburg honor the life of partner Daniel R. Gravelyn, who passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, after a courageous fight against leukemia. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and daughter, Sarah.
Dan, 51, served as chair of the Grand Rapids office litigation team and co-chair of the firm-wide Antitrust and Trade Regulation Practice Group. He also was instrumental in helping to build the Grand Rapids office. He represented clients across the country in the litigation of complex business disputes, including antitrust, business torts, product liability defense and securities matters. In addition, he defended clients in white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions.
“Dan was known nationally as a tremendous legal mind and someone who was a tireless advocate for his clients’ interests,” said Tracy T. Larsen, managing partner of the firm’s Grand Rapids office. “Most importantly, though, we remember him as a great friend and partner with whom we shared many wonderful memories. While we grieve for a life lost and the family he leaves behind, we will cherish the time we spent with him as a colleague and friend.”
During his legal career, Dan was recognized in the 2007-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Antitrust. He served in various leadership positions in the Michigan and Grand Rapids legal communities. He was a past chairman of the Michigan Bar Association Section on Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation and a member of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan and the ABA Section on Antitrust Law.
Outside of his legal work, Dan loved to play hockey and was an avid hiker and mountain climber. He climbed many of the tallest mountains in the world and always returned with some amazing stories and pictures of places where words would not do them justice.
He graduated cum laude from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Michigan State University in both political science and economics. Dan also was a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and was admitted to practice in both Michigan and Illinois.
Dan was involved in the Grand Rapids community and served as a director and member of the Executive Committee of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, and as a commissioner on the Grand Rapids Planning Commission.
