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8 ¦ JANUARY 4, 2021 NEWS

¦ From ‘I’M IN THE DARK’ on PAGE 7 I talked to John he would say he’d
be better off working for his wife.”
‘People need to reach out’
Suffield attorney David Kelly of West Hartford attorney Richard
Spellman, Kelly & Fanous knew Rochlin said he knew Liquori pro-
Liquori and, to a lesser extent, Li- The Christmas Day murder- fessionally for about six years.
quori’s wife, for more than 20 years. suicide involving a Suffield “He always seemed mild-man-
Kelly said he and Liquori be- nered and even-keeled. He enjoyed
came fast friends because they attorney has sent shock helping people and was a good con-
both had similar law practices in waves through the state’s versationalist. This event left me
the same town. speechless. People need to reach
legal community.

“John was quiet and unassum- out to friends if they have anxieties
ing. He wasn’t flashy and never or feel overwhelmed,” Rochlin said.
pretended to be something he Since the events of Christmas
wasn’t,” said Kelly, who estimates Day, Kelly said he’s spoken to more
he worked on “dozens of cases” in which Liquori was than a dozen attorneys in an effort to make sense of
on the other side. the situation.
Kelly said the murder-suicide came as a complete “We all know the stressers we are under as attor-
shock. neys. It’s important to communicate how we feel,”
“I’m in the dark as much as the next person. It’s Kelly said. “That’s the only one benefit that can come
devastating. It’s horrible. He was a good friend and an from this—that maybe people won’t be afraid to talk
even better colleague,” Kelly said Monday. about how they feel.”
Kelly said Liquori would often help his wife in a ¦

store she ran. The store, Cindy’s Soap Cottage in East Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
Windsor, was a sense of pride for the couple. analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
“They sold a lot of personal protective equipment, him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
like masks and hand sanitizers,” Kelly said. Every time 203-437-5950.

‘The Only Real Choice’: Merger Expands
Teams at Two Shoreline Firms

By Michael Marciano

Brody Wilkinson in Southport kicks off the which is undergoing an expansion. The merger
new year with an expansion of its trusts and formally takes effect Jan. 1.
estates team, fueled by a merger with nearby “After extensive planning discussions regard-
firm Hermenze & Marcantonio in Westport. ing how Hermenze & Marcantonio could best ac-
With the merger, Brody picks up three new commodate our continued business growth, client
principals—David R. Hermenze, Edward Mar- needs and future succession goals, my partners and
cantonio and James D. Funnell, Jr.—along with I determined that a strategic business combination
staff members from their former firm. The com- was the best answer,” said Hermenze. “As such, we
bined enterprise will continue under the name began our search for a firm that would allow us to
Brody Wilkinson, and will be based out of the continue our methods of practice while offering
firm’s main office at 2507 Post Road in Southport, opportunities for growth and succession.”

CONNECTICUT
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