Law Firm founder honored

June 2 was special day for Frank Pavese, the 91-year-old retired founder of Pavese Law Firm. Lee County Commissioners proclaimed that day “Frank A. Pavese Sr. Day,” to honor the long-time attorney for his contributions to the region.

Pavese started the one-man general practice law firm in 1949 after serving as an infantryman in World War II. He was a Lee County prosecutor from 1952 until 1964, and was then a county attorney for a decade.

His legal work for the county touched on many of the region's most important projects. The list includes the original Cape Coral bridge; Sanibel Causeway; Lee Memorial Hospital; Southwest Florida International Airport; the Pine Island bridge expansion; and Lee County's first water plant. Pavese even helped negotiate land acquisition deals for the islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach, including Lovers Key. Pavese was also a founding member of Fort Myers Downtown Property Owners Association, which led to the construction of the Federal Courthouse and several other improvements.