Francis J. Conte

CONTE, Francis J. "Fran", age 68, Professor of Law at the University of Dayton School of Law, died Sunday, March 20, 2011 at his Oakwood home. Preceded in death by his father Anthony V. Conte. Fran is survived by his devoted mother Eleanor Conte of Beverly Farms, Mass.; his loving wife Kathleen McShane and their children Brendan, Clare, Ciaran and Fiona. He is also survived by his brother Anthony Conte, Jr. and sisters Joyce Hill and Cheryl Cropley, all of Massachusetts. Fran will also be greatly missed by his Conte & McShane in-laws and his 11 nieces and nephews. Fran was born Aug. 16, 1942 in Salem Mass. He graduated from Beverly High School in 1960, obtained a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University in 1964 and a J.D. from University of Texas School of Law in 1969. Fran began his legal career with the Office of Counsel at the Department of the Navy. He then worked as a Legal Services staff attorney, eventually becoming Director of Legal Services for Northwestern Pennsylvania. Fran began teaching law at the University of Montana School of Law, where he was also Director of the Civil Clinical Program. For seven years Fran taught at Detroit College of Law, where he helped establish the Center for Canadian-US Law. Since 1987 Fran had been at the University of Dayton School of Law, first as Dean, then as a full-time Professor. During his 14 years as Dean he planned and raised funds for the new law school, Keller Hall, helped develop a new curriculum for students, including a program in Law and Technology, and increased the size and diversity of the faculty. Fran enjoyed his return to the classroom, teaching and mentoring law students both at UDSL and abroad. During the 2008-2009 academic year Fran taught at the University of Warsaw in Poland, as a Fulbright scholar. Fran was also the author of a number of scholarly articles, mostly about international and constitutional law. Fran was active in local and state bar associations, including the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, and as Administrator of the Dayton Bar Association minority student summer internship program. Fran will be remembered for his kind nature and adventurous spirit. He had a lifelong passion for travel and a love of the outdoors. He especially enjoyed summers at his cottage on Percy Lake in Ontario. Above all, Fran was a loving and generous family man, who looked back on his life with much gratitude. He will be truly missed by family, friends, students and colleagues. Family will receive friends on Friday, March 25 from 4:00-8:00PM at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd, Kettering. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 26 at 11:00AM at Church of the Ascension, 2025 Woodman Drive, Kettering, Ohio. Interment at Calvary Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Fran's name to the University of Dayton School of Law, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469 or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429