Owen J. Cummings passed away on June 24 at the age of 91. Cummings was the founder of the law firm of Cummings, McClorey, Davis, & Acho PLC.
After graduating from Detroit College of Law, Cummings became a solo practitioner at Owen J. Cummings, Attorney at Law in 1964. At that time, his law office was located on Five Mile Road in Livonia. As the firm steadily added more attorneys and support staff, the practice moved to a large three-level building built on the northwest corner of Schoolcraft and Stark in Livonia in the 1970s. Over time, CMDA grew to become the largest law firm in western Wayne County.
The firm’s Livonia office continued to grow and relocated to its current location on College Parkway in Livonia in 2017. Cummings reluctantly agreed that relocating to the firm’s present location was the correct business decision, although it was not easy for him to walk away from a building where he had proudly served thousands of clients for many decades. The move was a bit easier on him when he realized his new office had the best view of Schoolcraft College’s campus. Cummings was a generous donor to the college and always very proud of the college’s accomplishments.
One of the firm’s numerous accomplishments is the formation of Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA). In 1980, Cummings and Bernard McClorey, a grade school friend and co-founder of the firm, created an organization that joined local governmental entities together to secure insurance coverage that promised stability of premium and far-reaching protection.
MMRMA started with three Michigan municipalities. Today, MMRMA is the largest liability and property public entity risk pool in Michigan with more than 400 members.
Ronald Acho, co-founder and equity partner of the firm, shared his thoughts on Cummings, who he, and many others, affectionately referred to as OJ. “When I met OJ as a young man, little did I know that he would be my mentor and friend for over 50 years,” said Acho. “He had such an outstanding reputation with judges and clients that I became the beneficiary of that reputation. At times it was funny because he would ask me to handle a client matter for him, and his clients would ask ‘Can I have Owen instead?’ Nonetheless, he was the heart, soul, and consciousness of the firm. Rarely in the legal profession do we find people as great as OJ.”
Cummings retired from practicing law several years ago and greatly enjoyed spending his retirement years with the people he cherished most: his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and his loving wife of 68 years, Ruth.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 W Six Mile Road in Livonia. A scripture service will be held at 7 p.m.
Funeral in state will be held on Monday, June 30, at 10 a.m. at St. Edith Church, 15089 Newburgh Rd. in Livonia. The funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m.
After graduating from Detroit College of Law, Cummings became a solo practitioner at Owen J. Cummings, Attorney at Law in 1964. At that time, his law office was located on Five Mile Road in Livonia. As the firm steadily added more attorneys and support staff, the practice moved to a large three-level building built on the northwest corner of Schoolcraft and Stark in Livonia in the 1970s. Over time, CMDA grew to become the largest law firm in western Wayne County.
The firm’s Livonia office continued to grow and relocated to its current location on College Parkway in Livonia in 2017. Cummings reluctantly agreed that relocating to the firm’s present location was the correct business decision, although it was not easy for him to walk away from a building where he had proudly served thousands of clients for many decades. The move was a bit easier on him when he realized his new office had the best view of Schoolcraft College’s campus. Cummings was a generous donor to the college and always very proud of the college’s accomplishments.
One of the firm’s numerous accomplishments is the formation of Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA). In 1980, Cummings and Bernard McClorey, a grade school friend and co-founder of the firm, created an organization that joined local governmental entities together to secure insurance coverage that promised stability of premium and far-reaching protection.
MMRMA started with three Michigan municipalities. Today, MMRMA is the largest liability and property public entity risk pool in Michigan with more than 400 members.
Ronald Acho, co-founder and equity partner of the firm, shared his thoughts on Cummings, who he, and many others, affectionately referred to as OJ. “When I met OJ as a young man, little did I know that he would be my mentor and friend for over 50 years,” said Acho. “He had such an outstanding reputation with judges and clients that I became the beneficiary of that reputation. At times it was funny because he would ask me to handle a client matter for him, and his clients would ask ‘Can I have Owen instead?’ Nonetheless, he was the heart, soul, and consciousness of the firm. Rarely in the legal profession do we find people as great as OJ.”
Cummings retired from practicing law several years ago and greatly enjoyed spending his retirement years with the people he cherished most: his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and his loving wife of 68 years, Ruth.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 W Six Mile Road in Livonia. A scripture service will be held at 7 p.m.
Funeral in state will be held on Monday, June 30, at 10 a.m. at St. Edith Church, 15089 Newburgh Rd. in Livonia. The funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m.
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