Gafni, Abraham J.

English

Villanova University School of Law: Digital Repository

Volume 51 Issue 1 Article 4 2006 Master Teacher, Dearest Friend Abraham J. Gafni Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr  Part of the Legal Education Commons Recommended Citation Abraham J. Gafni, Master Teacher, Dearest Friend, 51 Vill. L. Rev. 7 (2006). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr/vol51/iss1/4 This Tribute is brought to you for free and open access by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Villanova Law Review by an authorized editor of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. 2006]MASTER TEACHER, DEAREST FRIENDHON. ABRAHAM J. GAFNII*I first met Steve Frankino forty years ago when my wife arrived at Villa-nova Law School as a second year transfer student, and he joined thefaculty, at age twenty-nine, as its youngest member. Somehow, perhapsbecause we lived in the same Philadelphia neighborhood, we both hadyoung children and my wife was so impressed with him as a masterteacher, we became close friends and maintained that friendship over thefollowing four decades despite our often residing hundreds and some-times thousands of miles apart.Thinking back, I recall that even then, although he was but a fewyears older than I, Steve presented an aura of wisdom and gravitas. Ini-tially, I imagined that this was because his hair was starting to gray and thatthis outward change in appearance was principally responsible for creat-ing an impression of understanding and judgment often associated onlywith those who were considerably older.I soon appreciated, however, that Steve's already mature observationson law and society, as well as people and problems, were not simply anillusion created by the color of his hair. Of course, they did reflect re-markable powers of analysis based upon his traditional training as a law-yer. There was, however, an additional dimension to Steve's analyses. Notonly could he recognize and define the issues and propose potential solu-tions, but, in addition, he always appreciated the ramifications of each ofthese proposals and the positive and negative impact they might have,both short and long term, on persons and groups, including those notdirectly affected by them. This rare combination of legal brilliance andpractical common sense is, perhaps, what lay at the core of Steve's successin his remarkable career directing the fortunes of three law schools.Beyond his special talents as a lawyer, professor and dean, however,there were other aspects of his personality which are deserving of mentionand which reflect on why he was such a special person.First, he had a rare ability to relate to people and, in effect, to makethem a part of his own family. I noted this in particular when Steve wouldoften refer to different individuals as his and Rosemarie's "dearest friend."Anyone who knew Steve and the precision with which he employed lan-guage might be taken aback by such repeated statements for he, of allpeople, understood the limitation of the superlative. There was, however,no confusion or insincerity in his characterization of these relationships.For when you became a friend of Steven and Rosemarie Frankino, andwere with them, you did, in fact, sense at that moment that you were their* Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law.1Gafni: Master Teacher, Dearest FriendPublished by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository, 2006VILLANOVA LAW REVIEWclosest and most intimate friend. At the same time you understood thatthey had the capacity to share this special relationship equally with others,as a parent might with children, without diminishing the quality of theirrelationship with you. In short, when Steven Frankino was your friend, hewas, in fact, your "dearest" friend, and you could rely upon him to providethe support and assistance one might expect only from one with whomsuch a close relationship had been established.But Steve's sense of obligation extended beyond those with whom hehad a personal relationship. At the Memorial Service held at the lawschool in November, I mentioned, as an example, an undertaking thatSteve had assumed with respect to a needy individual whom he had met ina medieval synagogue in the city of Safed in Israel in 1969. That manassured that he would recite prayers regularly for Steve and his family. Inexchange, for years, Steve continued to send him money reflecting a per-sonal sense of commitment to an individual whom he had met once forperhaps two minutes but which commitment, once undertaken, could not,as a matter of personal ethics and honor, be abandoned. Over the years Icame to learn that this was not the only such personal commitment whichSteve had assumed over the years and about which he never spoke. Inmany respects, Steve, a public figure by reason of his professional positionswas a very private person and never more so than when he was assistingothers.But, he further understood that this obligation to the poor and disad-vantaged extended beyond one's personal commitments. In particular, heoften expressed the need for the legal profession to apply its very specialtalents and training to the service of society in general, without regard tofinancial reward.Steve's ability to extend himself was reflected in yet another aspect ofhis personality. A review of his personal background and education fromprimary school through law school, as well as his professional career, re-flect extensive study, training and commitment to the Catholic Church.These, of course, formed much of the religious, ethical and moral per-spectives which were at the very core of his being.He was not only a committed Roman Catholic, however, but was also"Catholic" in the broadest and most general sense of that term. He wasopen, tolerant, accepting of others and all-embracing. Moreover, he wasnot only respectful of the beliefs and value systems of others, but was alsointerested and inquisitive about them. He was most sincere in seeking tolearn from those of different backgrounds in an attempt to broaden hisown insights into and understanding of all people.That is not to say that he did not have very strong opinions, particu-larly in the area of special academic interest to him, i.e., the proper rela-tionship between religion and government in the United States. But evenwhen one might disagree with Steve he had a special ability to express adiffering opinion without in any way belittling or expressing a lack of re-[Vol. 51: p. 72Villanova Law Review, Vol. 51, Iss. 1 [2006], Art. 4https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr/vol51/iss1/4TRiBU' TO STEVEN P. FRANKINOspect for a contrary position. He would always reflect an attitude whichconveyed that views contrary to his own were worthy of consideration andthat respect was to be accorded to every person's beliefs and traditions.Since Steve's passing, I have reflected upon these aspects of Steve'spersonality and character and how they coincided with the objectives oflegal education to which his professional career was dedicated. In trainingnew lawyers, we, of course, attempt to instill the ability to approachproblems analytically and not be diverted by the extraneous or irrelevant.At the same time we hope that these students will appreciate that there ismore than a rigid intellectual aspect to the practice of law. We want themto reflect flexibility and openness in considering new approaches and solu-tions which may not have been considered or accepted earlier. We hopethat they will not view their roles as advocates for disputing parties as re-quiring that they adopt hostile, unfriendly or personally destructive atti-tudes, which, while assumed in the guise of advancing the client's position,often create even greater anger and tension between the parties and un-dermine the important role of the lawyer as healer of human conflict.Rather, we intend that our students appreciate that they have not beenretained simply because they have special technical expertise, but becausethey can bring a dispassionate and calming influence to a heated situation.Finally, we hope that our students will understand that a legal calling in-cludes not only service to one's clients but to society as a whole; that wehave an obligation to provide service to those less fortunate; that our spe-cial training has provided us with tools which allow us to accomplish thesegoals; and, that our failure to undertake this role would reflect an aban-donment of the moral responsibility of our profession.Steven Frankino exemplified all of these characteristics in full mea-sure. His brilliance as a lawyer was matched by his winning and lovingpersonality and by his openness to new ideas. He approached differencesof opinion not as an invitation to legal or administrative warfare but as anopportunity to mold solutions that would serve the best interests of all. Hevalued personal principle and belief, but appreciated that differing beliefsof others are, except in the rare instance, to be accorded honor and re-spect. And, he understood that we have an obligation as individuals, andparticularly as lawyers, to employ our special training in the service of soci-ety generally and particularly for those who are unable to obtain the fullbenefits to which all are entitled.Villanova Law School, whose mission was so important to StevenFrankino, will continue to educate lawyers for decades to come. In so do-ing, it will, hopefully, recall him and consider his example as the educa-tional model for our students. He was, in fact, the lawyer and person wehope to see reflected in each of our graduates and in the legal professionin general.2006]3Gafni: Master Teacher, Dearest FriendPublished by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository, 2006VILLANOVA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 51: p. 74Villanova Law Review, Vol. 51, Iss. 1 [2006], Art. 4https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr/vol51/iss1/4

Master Teacher, Dearest Friend

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Master Teacher, Dearest Friend

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