It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague and friend, Anton Dworak. He was recently diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), a very rare and fatal condition, and passed away on August 3rd at the age of 54. Anton leaves a significant hole in our firm, this community, and the Colorado legal scene.
Anton began work at Lyons Gaddis in 1999. He became a shareholder on January 1, 2004, and served on the firm’s management committee and as the firm’s President. He was Past-President of the Boulder County Bar Association and a Vice President of the Colorado Bar Association. He was also a member of the tax, business, and estate planning sections of each association, and assisted Bar Association members as a volunteer on the Professionalism Committee.
As a fourth generation Longmont resident, he was committed to the community. He was the current Chairman of the Board on the Longmont United Hospital Board of Directors. He served on the Special Transit Board (now Via), the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Longmont Housing Development Corporation, Past President of the Tiny Tim Center (now TLC), Past President of the Twin Peaks Rotary and a Lifetime member of the Board of Director of the Longmont Cemetery Association.
He graduated in 1990 from Emory University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. He graduated in 1993 from the University of Denver College of Law with his J.D. and in 1999, he earned his LLM, Master of Laws in Taxation.
According to shareholder John Wade Gaddis, “Anton grew up here, attended Longmont High School, went away to Emory University, and then returned after law school. He loved this place. Some of his prized possessions are 100- year-old photos and relics of the family business, AV Dworak Realty and Insurance. He proudly carried on the Dworak family traditions of contributing to Longmont’s worthy causes in just about every conceivable way. He has served on numerous non-profit boards and commissions doling out his wisdom, legal advice and humor. He loved movies, putting together models, music, and the Buffs. He was a great host and held legendary parties. But above all, the most important thing was his family. He has been an outstanding lawyer, partner and friend. We have been lucky to have Anton in our lives.”
Senior Counsel Richard Lyons said, “Anton’s intellect, professionalism, and sense of humor made him an ideal lawyer and a great law partner. He was very proud of his Longmont heritage and carried on the family tradition of community service. He will be truly missed by the firm, his clients, and his many friends.”
“We grieve along with his loving family. We know that people will want to recognize Anton’s contributions to our community. Lyons Gaddis has donated to the Longmont United Hospital Foundation in his honor and invites any of you who feel so moved to do the same, “ noted Grant. “We want to assure everyone that Lyons Gaddis will continue to take care of all of Anton’s clients and colleagues. We will continue to support the community and to remember Anton. He was one of a kind.” Grant noted.