Hundreds honor ‘old-school’ lawyer

By Jon Moffett

YOUNGSTOWN — Don “Bull Moose” Hanni Jr. made a final appearance at the Mahoning County Courthouse on Sunday.

The longtime defense lawyer died July 16 in his home. Thousands of Hanni’s friends, family members, colleagues and local supporters attended calling hours in the rotunda of the courthouse.

Nearly 2,500 people were in attendance, said Chelsey Santucci, owner of Rossi Santucci Funeral Home on Market Street. Santucci said it was a “fitting tribute for a true area legend.”

Hanni, 82, was loved by many, hated by a few and respected by almost all, said James Dempsey, Hanni’s half-brother.

“The best politician in the world has friends and he’s got enemies, and Don was no exception; that’s the way I see it,” Dempsey said. “I really think personally he had more friends than enemies.”

Many of those friends gathered to grieve and to celebrate the life spent in politics and the law. Hanni was a member of the Mahoning County Bar Association and is listed in the “International Book of Defense Lawyers.”

Many people in attendance had experienced what Hanni could bring to a courtroom.

He was a brilliant trial lawyer,” said Mark Belinky, Mahoning County Probate judge. “Nobody can cross-examine like Don Hanni; his skill in the courtroom was astonishing. As a lawyer, you want to be as good as the best, and he was one of the best trial lawyers I ever saw.”

Vivid bouquets of flowers and multiple photo mosaics adorned the courthouse.

Members of the Knights of Columbus attended the calling hours dressed in full regalia and took turns standing alongside the coffin, swords at attention.

This Guard of Honor was there to protect a fellow member, said Paul Rimedio, a fellow Knight. At one point there was a 35- to 40-minute wait to see the body, officials of Rossi Santucci said.

Such a wait was a small price to pay for many.

“He was a fantastic lawyer; you couldn’t get any better,” said Ray York, a family friend. “He was a very good man. He’s going to be missed terribly.”

“[Hanni had] the ability to bring hundreds of people together,” said Bill Adams, who knew Hanni during his years as chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party. “He had great influence, and that just came through his relationships with people ... and I don’t know if we’ll ever see that again.”

Hanni’s peers recalled the lawyer’s “old-school” ways.

“He fought for the cause, and I think when you hired Mr. Hanni you knew that you were going to get the best opportunity to have justice served,” said Patrick Cunning, Campbell Municipal Court judge.

Belinky added that Hanni was a “bare-knuckled politician” and that he was a “character.”

“In a political era where people are so vanilla and they’re using political handlers and advisers to monitor everything, he was so colorful and so interesting that it was a joy to see someone like that,” Belinky said. “It just made life so much more interesting.”

Cunning added that Hanni was authentically Youngstown. Hanni attended East High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Youngstown College.

“He’s old-school,” Cunning said. “He represents Youngstown in its glory years, and I think we need to get back to that.”

Hanni also served in the Army and was involved in the storming of Normandy on D-Day in World War II. He served two years of active duty before being honorably discharged.

Hanni’s passion for justice may have been matched only by his passion for his family and for people.

“He was a good man to this city,” said the Rev. Andrew Allen. “People like Don shouldn’t die; love don’t die.”