McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips issued the following announcement on Jan. 3.
MVP Law expresses its deepest condolences upon the passing of John J. Jurcyk, Jr. His loss will be deeply felt within the firm, as well as among the community and his professional colleagues.
John was a consummate lawyer. “John was a lawyer’s lawyer. Professional and respectful he would advocate to his greatest ability for a client without personal animosity to opposing counsel…He is an aspiration.” Byron Bowles, MVP’s President,
After graduating from Rockhurst University in 1952, he served in the 13th combat Engineer Battalion in the US Army in Korea. He then attended the University of Kansas Law School where he served as Editor-in Chief of the Kansas Law Review. After a Federal Court Clerkship, John joined McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips in 1958. He served as firm president from 1980 to 1984.
When John joined MVP in 1958, the firm consisted of five lawyers. John tried commercial, employment, negligence, railroad and product liability cases. John served as President in 1980, and the firm had grown to 23 attorneys. John practiced law at MVP until 2004, when he left to serve as Senior Policy Advisor for Mayor Joe Reardon, before returning to the firm in 2013, where he remained until his death.
John received numerous professional awards during his long career for his zealous and ethical conduct. He was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, president of the Wyandotte County Bar Association and the President of the Kansas Bar Foundation, and a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Kansas School of Law.
John was committed to his community and served on several boards including Wyandotte Health Foundation, Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Providence Medical Center, Villa St. Francis, and he served on the University of Kansas School of Laws Board of Governors.
John was active in the community he loved. When John left the firm to become an advisor to the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kan., he offered these thoughts:
“In close, I will share with you another thing I have learned – if you live to be 80, people expect sage wisdom to just fall out of your mouth. The best I can do is to offer you some reminders that are key to the spirit and endurance of McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips: Be professional – courteous and truthful always. Remember we practice the law – no one is perfect. Work hard, but work as a team. Love what you do, be passionate about it. Have fun and welcome creative solutions. Respect history’s lessons. Love your family and make time for them. Give back to the community in service and profits. Forget insults. Have a sense of humor. Keep brewed coffee on the warmer. Keep beer in the refrigerator. Keep popcorn in your drawer. Honor the law.”
John will be remembered for his kindness, humility and his understanding of people. He will be remembered for his unwavering integrity and his approach to each day.
Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. with the Rosary being prayed at 10:15 a.m. The Funeral Liturgy will follow at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 5, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St. Kansas City, KS. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Kansas City, KS. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Catholic Charities or to St. Patrick School.
Original source can be found here.