In Memory of Victor J. Pellegrino (1948-2009)
Our firm is saddened to announce that our beloved friend, partner, confidant, and skilled counselor, Victor Pellegrino, lost his courageous battle with cancer on June 5, 2009. Victor's passion for the law and defense of the accused is a loss for our profession, but especially for our firm. Victor was more than a lawyer to anyone who had the privilege of meeting him. As our friend, Victor was selfless with his time. As an attorney, Victor was a highly sought after DUI attorney with a command of the courtroom as he represented the rights of his clients with integrity and passion. As a nationally known DUI speaker and current Dean of the National College for DUI Defense, Victor was inspiring and dedicated to his profession as he strived to teach others. As a family man, Victor was loving and committed. As an attorney, Victor was a quiet strength in our judicial system and one of our nation's best DUI lawyers.
Victor was a 1977 graduate of the Vermont Law School and was admitted to the Florida Bar during that same year. As a founding member and Regent of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), he frequently lectured throughout the country and for the Florida Bar, NACDL, FACDL, state and local bar associations. Having served as lead counsel in over 1,000 DUI cases throughout his career, Victor's reputation among his peers , his clients, and the judicial system defined a man committed to his profession and determined to make a difference in the lives of all he met.
Victor is survived by his wife, Brenda; parents, John & Amelia; sisters Irene Matye and her husband Brian, Diane and her husband JD; daughter Stephanie Sweeney and her husband Dave; sons, Victor and his wife Andrea, and John; three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
We celebrate Victor's life with his family whom he cherished and with the countless number of friends whom he leaves better for having known him. To honor his life and passion for teaching our profession, BCPP will establish a law scholarship in his name. The Victor J. Pellegrino Law Scholarship will benefit law students who are pursuing their dream to become passionate in the defense of others.
A quiet and gentle man, Victor would not like for us to boast about his many legal accomplishments throughout his years of practice. We believe that Victor's life is best honored by sharing an email he recently received from one of his NCDD seminar attendees. Victor was likened to Humphrey Bogart at the point that this famous actor was ill. When Bogart had been visited by Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey, he commented that as a result of losing so much weight he could easily fit inside the dumbwaiter. Hepburn softly said of Bogart- little guy, he was the biggest man I ever knew. As this seminar attendee reflected in his email, he concluded Vic, you are one of the biggest guys I have ever known.
Our firm, agrees. Rest in peace, dear friend.
