The Loyola University Chicago community mourns the death of law alumnus Philip H. Corboy (JD ’49), a founding partner of the Chicago law firm Corboy & Demetrio and the namesake of the University’s Corboy Law Center. Mr. Corboy passed away on June 12, 2012.
Philip H. Corboy was a founding partner of the Chicago law firm Corboy & Demetrio, and a 1949 graduate of the School of Law. He was widely recognized as one of the greatest trial lawyers of his generation, as evidenced by the National Law Journal listing him among the top 100 most influential lawyers in the country. Corboy was the first personal injury lawyer to be elected Chicago Bar Association president, and among the first personal injury lawyers in the country to win a million-dollar jury verdict. He served as general counsel to the Illinois Democratic Party, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association president, chair of the ABA Section on Litigation, chair and lifetime board member of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a member of the first committee on Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction.
Mr. Corboy’s leadership and generosity over the years have been instrumental in maintaining Loyola’s reputation for excellence in trial advocacy. In 1995, he created the Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy program at Loyola to support and train students who aspire to careers as trial lawyers. As a result of this exceptional program, more than 115 Loyola law students have received scholarship assistance, in addition to some of the best advocacy training in the nation.
In 2009, Mr. Corboy and his wife, Mary A. Dempsey, made a historic gift to Loyola University Chicago School of Law. In recognition of his inspiring career and long-time support of the School of Law, the building at 25 E. Pearson Street was renamed the Philip H. Corboy Law Center.
Mr. Corboy is survived by wife Mary A. Dempsey; three sons, Philip Harnett Corboy Jr., John R. Corboy, and Thomas M. Corboy; eight grandchildren; and a brother. His daughter, Judge Joan Marie Corboy, died at age 45. His youngest son, for whom Loyola’s Robert J. Corboy Courtroom is named, died at age 12.
Condolences can be sent to the family in care of the School of Law’s Office of Alumni Relations, 25 E. Pearson Street, Chicago, IL 60611.
Please remember this family in your prayers.