Mr. Frank Peter Colosi

Frank Peter Colosi, age 68, passed away August 7, 2023. Frank was born on October 2, 1954 in Niagara Falls, New York, to Anthony and Pauline Colosi. He graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1972, and very much like his older brother Joe, wanted the world to be a better place, where everyone was respected and valued, and as remembered by his close friend Patti Marino, “he spent his career trying to level the playing field”.

Frank received his Baccalaureate Degree from Princeton in 1975, his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Cornell in 1979, and completed his Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern in 1983. He then moved to Texas, passing that state’s bar exam in 1983, and joined forces with Attorneys Art Brender and Terry Casey. Together, they would become a team of civil rights champions.

His family knew from a very early age that Frank was destined for great things, when before even entering kindergarten, he could already multiply and divide. No one could ever have imagined though, that his love of numbers would lead to the application of his statistical ability to win many of his law cases, and became especially significant in one ground breaking Supreme Court Case. It was this specific case where his statistical knowledge would greatly assist in leading to an outcome that would change the focus of promotional practices for employers, “making it easier for employees to prove racial bias in the work place”. The case, fought by this team of 3 lawyers (Brender, Casey & Colosi), “was widely seen as the most significant civil rights decision of the courts 1987-88 term”. There would come to follow another significant Supreme Court case fought by this team, and Frank would continue to spend the majority of his 40 year law practice, providing his expert legal voice for those who otherwise would never have been heard. One of his clients wrote the following review, “Frank is a brilliant, fair, and extremely effective attorney who digs deep into all aspects of your case. Going against a municipality would deter and intimidate many attorneys - not Frank. His extensive research uncovered information that validated our case and held the responsible entity accountable. I have and will continue to recommend Frank Colosi.”

Art Brender remembers Frank as a brilliant attorney and a loyal friend who will be deeply missed. Frank had developed, and maintained, many very close friendships over the years, from his hometown of Niagara Falls, and dear colleagues and close friends in Fort Worth. He was loyal and dedicated to each and every one of them. Many of those close friends have reached out to his family to share the love and admiration that they had for Frank, who they said was always there, without question, to lend a helping hand.

Frank was a lifelong Democrat, and was actively involved in the Democratic Party of Tarrant County. But his dedication to the Democratic Party began long before his move to Texas. Former Niagara Falls Councilman Bill Gallagher wrote, “I first met Frank when I was a newly elected Niagara Falls City Council member, age 24. Frank was a student at Niagara Falls High School working on a project involving government and he interviewed me. His knowledge and sophistication amazed me. From then on, Frank was an informal advisor to me and I always valued his views. Frank saw public service as vital in a free society and public policy, shaped with the highest integrity. He always brought compassion and brilliance to the table.”

Frank was preceded in death by his father, Anthony, his mother, Pauline, and his brother, Joseph.

He is survived by his sister and brother in law, Lydia and Don Rappold; his niece, Nicole Desmond, and great-niece, Aria; his nephew and niece, Adam and Carin Desmond, and great nephews, Luca and Rocco; his nephew and niece, John and Sara Colosi; his nephew and niece, Peter and Kathryn Colosi, and great nieces, Campbell and Britton; many dear cousins; and so many dear friends.

A memorial service will be held for Frank at a later date in Niagara Falls, his hometown.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/11401853 for the Colosi family.