Kelly Corr, a celebrated trial lawyer, irrepressible Irish American who only used green ink, and a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, died February 3 from complications associated with Multiple Systems Atrophy. The disease cut short an energetic life of humor, laughter, and enjoyment of people, with no moments wasted. He was 76.

The eldest of five boys born to Eugene and Kathleen (Forhan) Corr, Kelly Patrick Corr was born on March 1, 1948. Kelly grew up in the Laurelhurst neighborhood and attended Sacred Heart Villa; Seattle Preparatory School where he was valedictorian; Williams College, where he was elected student body president; and Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Kelly was widely recognized as one of Washington State's best trial lawyers. Asked how he managed to keep in his head all the complexities of a case, he replied that his brain was like a bathtub that filled in preparation for the case, then emptied after the trial ended. Kelly was named a "Super Lawyer" 17 times and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization limited to the top one percent of the profession. He served as president of Trial.com, the national network of trial lawyers.

His diverse clients included such major companies as Alaska Airlines and Hearst Corporation in the Seattle newspaper wars and the musical groups Heart and Nirvana. Many of his cases attracted national attention. No history of Microsoft fails to mention Kelly's case against the software giant brought by Seattle Computer, inventor of the original Disk Operating System. In 1999, Kelly with Bill Cronin, Guy Michelson and others from the old Bogle & Gates law firm founded Corr Cronin, which quickly became one of the Northwest's highest regarded litigation law firms. Kelly's reputation was such that opposing counsels from past cases would often refer clients to him. As one Superior Court judge told Washington Super Lawyers magazine: "He is a lawyer's lawyer, the kind of hardworking, skilled and intelligent attorney all of us would aspire to be."

Kelly developed a keen sense of justice and fairness from both his parents. His father was assistant Chief of the Seattle Police Department and later US Marshal. His mother was a registered nurse and was active in numerous civic causes. Kelly brought this sense of justice to his legal career, as an aide to Sen. Warren Magnuson, as an assistant United States Attorney prosecuting murderers and drug smugglers, and as a trustee of the King County Bar Association. Outside of work, he volunteered in service to the legal community, heading a task force on AIDS that earned him the President's Award by the Washington State Bar Association. He taught at Seattle University and the University of Washington law schools. He also volunteered as a board member of the Matt Talbot Center, which provides assistance to people experiencing addiction, homelessness and mental health issues.

Kelly proudly described himself as "100 percent Irish," the grandson of Irish immigrants. He marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, wore an Irish Claddagh wedding ring, visited cousins at their homes in Ireland, attended the annual Friends of St. Patrick banquet, and organized St. Patrick's Day parties at his office, featuring Irish bagpipes, step dancers, shamrocks, and Kelly's loud green pants.

Even on formal legal briefs, Kelly always signed his name with a green felt-tipped pen. Well, almost always. Once early in Kelly's career as a federal prosecutor, Chief Judge Walter McGovern announced to a packed courtroom that there was "a problem" with an order prepared by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Corr. Scared and embarrassed, just a year out of law school, Kelly stammered a request for the judge to explain. "It's not signed in green ink," said McGovern.

It was absolute proof of the Luck of the Irish that Kelly met his future wife, Laurie Johnson, on St. Patrick's Day, in 1984. They later married in 1988 and enjoyed a life filled with love, friendships and large family gatherings having both come from big close-knit families. Kelly always said marrying Laurie was the best decision he ever made.

Kelly was intensely committed to his clan. He was the first of five boys, representing a repeated effort by his mother to have at least one girl. By a quirk in parental timing, his sibling Casey was born on Kelly's birthday seven years later. Kelly liked to joke that Casey was the one birthday present he could never return.

Throughout his life, Kelly loved to travel. In retirement he and Laurie bicycled in Cambodia, Myanmar, Croatia and other parts of Europe. With their children, they rafted in the Grand Canyon and journeyed to the Galapagos Island, Cape Town, Machu Picchu and other faraway points.

In addition to Laurie, Kelly is survived by his children, Erin (Jon) Nigro, Riley (Danielle) Corr. Kelly is also survived by his brothers Kerry (Cammie), Casey (Sally), Pat (Jean) and Chris (Caroline); and Laurie's siblings, Randy (Lea), Lindy (Trim), Don (Louisa), Lisa (Mary Pat) and Patty (Bryan), plus nieces and nephews who showed their love with frequent visits as his health declined. In the final months of his life, he was visited by a stream of close family, cousins, neighbors, classmates and many friends whose deep affection was testament to a life well lived. He was particularly animated by visits from his cherished grandson, Jackson Corr Nigro.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 12 PM at St. Bridget Church, 4900 NE 50th St, Seattle with a reception following at Sandpoint Country Club, 8333 55th Ave NE, Seattle. Remembrances can be made to the Matt Talbot Center.

Kelly Patrick Corr

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