March 01, 2013
Dean Michael A. Simons and the entire St. John’s Law School
community mourn the passing of alumnus, friend, and benefactor
Frank H. Granito, Jr. ’62.
Mr. Granito served his country as a Naval Avi
ator
with the Pacific Fleet and with the Naval Reserve. He was an expert
in aviation law, and spent the past 46 years with the firm of
Speiser, Kraus, Nolan & Granito, practicing with his son Frank
for the past 25 years. Mr. Granito was involved in nearly every
major aviation case of the last half century. He successfully
represented the families of Pan Am 103, which resulted in a
historic settlement for the families and was the framework for
renewed diplomatic relations between Libya and the United States.
Mr. Granito shared his expertise in aviation, writing and lecturing
at many local Law Schools, including at his alma
mater.
A true son of St. John’s, Mr. Granito proudly became the patriarch
of a large family of alumni that included his children (Cathy '82,
Nora '86, and Frank III '87), his sons-in-law (Tim Langan '82 and
Dan Harris '82) and his grandson (Tim Langan '14). This family
legacy lives on through the Law School’s Granito Scholar Program,
which Mr. Granito’s children funded in his honor. The endowment
affords untenured faculty members the rare opportunity to take a
one-semester leave from teaching in order to devote time to
scholarship.
“Like so many of our alumni, Frank Granito’s career was a
testament to the education and the opportunity he received at St.
John’s and reflected his commitment to upholding the Vincentian
mission of serving the greater good,” Dean Simons said. “He will be
missed.”
The School of Law extends its prayers and deepest sympathy to
the Granito family.