Patrick J. Ledwidge, an attorney with Dickinson Wright for 54 years, died on May 19. He was 82.
“Pat Ledwidge was a brilliant attorney, whose versatile and extraordinary legal skills ranged from corporate and business counseling to banking and finance to trial practice,” said Dickinson Wright Chief Executive Officer William T. Burgess.
“For many years he was principal outside regulatory counsel to National Bank of Detroit, and served for decades as general counsel and corporate Secretary to ACO Hardware,” said Burgess. “Most importantly, he was an excellent teacher, mentor, partner and friend to his colleagues. He was in all respects the epitome of a true gentleman and a ‘man for others.’ The legal community at large, and our firm in particular, will miss him greatly.”
Born in Detroit in 1928, Ledwidge attended University of Detroit High School, class of 1945; College of the Holy Cross, class of 1949; University of Michigan Law School, class of 1952.
After serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1955, he joined Dickinson, Wright, Moon, Van Dusen, & Freeman in 1956.
He was still an active lawyer at the Bloomfield Hills office of Dickinson Wright at the time of his death.
During Ledwidge’s professional years, he was a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the American Law Institute.
He also served as a member of the Serra Club of Detroit, president of the Board of Trustees of the Citizens Research Council and counsel to Angels’ Place.
He married Rosemary Lahey Mervenne, a widow with five children: Anne M. Mervenne of Royal Oak; Mary C. Mervenne (Bill Helin) of Washington, D.C.; John W. Mervenne Jr. (Carol Tenuta) of Clarkston; David J. Mervenne (Patrisha nee Janto) of Bloomfield Hills; and Sara Mervenne Edleman (John Edleman Jr.) of East Grand Rapids.
At the time of Patrick and Rosemary’s marriage in 1974, her children ranged in age from four to the teens.
Ledwidge fathered this new family with joy and love and earned their hearts as well as those of his six grandchildren: Patrick Joseph Mervenne , Theresa Mervenne, Anna Edleman, Maria Mervenne, William Mervenne II, Aurora Edleman.
Ledwidge also was a devout Roman Catholic.
His life was celebrated during a funeral Mass on Saturday, May 22 at Holy Name Church in Birmingham. There was a private burial on Monday.
The family suggests memorials to University of Detroit Jesuit High School, 8400 S. Cambridge, Detroit, MI 48221 or Angels’ Place, 25240 Lahser Road, Suite 2, Southfield, MI 48033.
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