Brian F. D. Lavelle, Sr.
August 16, 1941 ~ November 18, 2012
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Brian Francis David Lavelle, Sr., 71, passed away in his home on Sunday, November 18, 2012.
A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, he was the son of the late Gerald John and Mary Josephine O'Callaghan Lavelle.
He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1963. He went on to earn his law degree from Vanderbilt University and his Masters degree in taxation from NYU. Brian also served as a Captain in the US Air Force JAG Corps. Following his active duty service, he moved to Asheville and began a very long and prestigious career at the Van Winkle Law Firm. He was a distinguished member of the North Carolina Bar serving twice on the board of Governors. He was a Fellow and Former Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
In addition to his law career, Brian was an active member of the Asheville community and served on the Board of trustees for Asheville Country Day, and on the advisory board for the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Rotary, the Board of the Community Foundation of WNC, the Rhododendron Brigade and the Biltmore Forest Country Club. He was a member of All Saints Waccamaw in Pawleys Island, South Carolina .
Brian is survived by his wife, Sara Hill Lavelle; three children, Francis Lavelle, Jr. and his wife, Junestka, of Marietta, GA, Lisa Bowen and her husband John, of Asheville and Katy Simpson and her husband, Joel, of Richmond, VA; seven grandchildren, Brian the 3rd, Sam, Lilianna, Oliver, Alessa, Peter and Michael. Also surviving are Brian's sister, Kathleen Heffernan and brother, Neal Lavelle, both of Cleveland, Ohio and nieces and nephews.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 am Wednesday in Trinity Episcopal Church. Burial will be 2:00 pm Saturday at All Saints Waccamaw Old Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or the Community Foundation of WNC.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
I’m so sorry to hear Brian has passed. I was a joy to work with and will miss him. Keeping all of you in my prayers in this time of loss. God bless, T.
Lisa, John, and Michael,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time! I enjoyed knowing your father. I am sure that he is now sharing his keen wit with the angels; maybe he and BJ have already had a conversation! Much love to all of you. Allene
Our family and the Lavelle family have been so close, even before they moved to Brookside Road, that it feels like we have lost a member of the family. For me, Mr. Lavelle was a wise friend, a kindly uncle, and a supportive advisor, especially on career matters, but on many other things as well. He always treated me like a grown-up, even when I was a little kid, and in every conversation with him there was humor. A lot of people who knew him socially might not know how highly he was thought of in the tax and estate planning world. (I learned about that when I was working in Raleigh in the Department of Revenue.) But I think what I admired most was his devotion to his family. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.
Deepest regrets and sympathy. We will miss our dear friend.
Love, Barbara and Charlie Nesbitt
Thoughts and Prayers are with you.
Love,
David
Our deepest sympathies to you all.
Gail & Clark Britt
So sorry for your loss. I work at Van Winkle and he was a great person.
Brian was one of mentors early in my legal career. He was a kind and generous man and great lawyer. He will be sorely missied. He carried himself with grace and dignity in all aspects of his personal and professional life. He has been an inspiriation to us all.
We are both saddened to learn of Brian’s death and send our best wishes to Sara, his children and to his extended family. All of us would do well to emulate Brian’s life as a husband, a father, a community servant and a fine lawyer.
I have tears in my eyes. Brian was one of the dearest people I ever knew. I really thought he would live forever.
I’m very sad to hear of Brian’s passing. He was a gentleman who was always kind and friendly to me during my time at the Van Winkle Law Firm. To his wife and children, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that warm memories of Brian’s presence in your lives will soon replace the grief from his loss.
I am sorry to hear about Brian’s death and send my sympathy to all of you. I have so many fond memories of Brian and your whole family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sara and Family,
Thinking and praying for you and your family. Praying for God to strenghten each of you.
Love,
Jackie and Family
I am holding your family in my prayers. Love and light, Mary Hart
I GREW UP WITH THE LAVELLE FAMILY. MY HOUSE WAS BEHIND THE HOUSE WHERE DAVID, NEAL’S SON LIVES NOW. I AM SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING. CONDOLENCES TO ALL THE FAMILY.
I was given the opportunity work with Brian for 6 years. In those years I not only got to know him, I also had the honor of getting to know his family. He was one of the ‘brilliant’ minds that not everyone gets to meet in their lifetime. He always had wise words for me and treated my son with so much respect when he would visit. Brian, Lisa, Katy, I loved your dad, sometimes it felt like he was a dad to me. He was so proud of all of you and his grandchildren…Family was so very imprortant to him…Sara, my love and thoughts go out to you and the family. May wonderful memories and smiles of the good times help replace the saddness and grief you are feeling now. He surely will be missed.
My prayers go out to the family of Brian. I always looked forward to his visits to my barber shop.
Neil Thagard
With heartfelt condolences to Sara and family. Brian brought so much wisdom and kindness to our unpredictable world. He’ll be missed.
Brian was a friend and respected colleague. I extend my sincerest condolences to Sara and the Lavelle children.
Karl H. Straus
To the Lavelle family: Donna and I worked on several estate matters over several years, and know that we received the very best guidance from Brian. But more than that…we felt we were dealing with another member of the family at all times. We know from our dealings that Brian shared a belief that now puts him in a better place, with no more pain. He will be missed. Tommy & Donna Orr
Sara, I related to Brian so easily. It was as if I had known him all my life. He was truly a family man. It was so generous of him to share with all of us the soup he brought that summer evening. I’ll miss seeing him as time goes by. Love to you, Lisa, Katy and Francis. ‘Woody’
Katy, I am so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Kristina & Mike Bentley
When I opened my CPA practice on Church St my neighbor Brian came over a brought one client after another.At the time I did not know if I would have any clients but Brian instantly solved that matter.I remain in his debt all these years later.
He was a friend and I,and many others,will miss him.
My thoughts extend to the family.
Dear Sara and your Loving Family,
You and Brian gave so many of us True Grace and helped so many to become kinder, more compassionate people.
May you receive all the blessings of the Lord during this difficult time.
All my love, Susanne Collins
Dear Sara and your Loving Family,
You and Brian taught True Grace and helped so many of us to become kinder, more compassionate people.
May you receive all the blessings of the Lord during this difficult time.
All my love, Susanne Collins
Your friends and neighbors on Pawleys Island are deeply saddened at the loss of Brian Lavelle. From your Pawleys family, our thoughts and Prayers are with the Lavelle family during this time of loss.
Sara,
I want you to know that I have been thinking of you and your children & will certainly keep you all in my prayers. While I haven’t seen you and Brian in a long time ( bridge days),I know Brian was highly respected in his field & was known for his dry wit.
Love, Jean
I just heard the news about Brian’s passing. I am so sorry about your loss. He was always a kind and gentle man with a deep love of family. The times I was in your home for VanWinkle get togethers, you could feel the warmth and love that your family has for each other. His love of family and integrity always made an impression on me. I am so sorry for your loss.
I miss him still