Guerin L. Avery "Gary"
April 9, 1940 - December 13, 2019
Guerin “Gary” Avery, 79, was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 9, 1940, the younger of two children born to Gerald and Barbara Avery. A top graduate of Cathedral Latin high school, a talented musician and debater with a formidable intellect, he earned his undergraduate degree from John Carroll University and a law degree from Cleveland Marshall. Gary built two successful businesses during his lifetime. In Act One in his twenties and thirties, he juggled private law practice while acting as Municipal Law Director (University Heights and Olmstead Falls). Act Two was purely entrepreneurial. In 1986, he founded Law Advisory Group, the platform from which he created visionary content covering the challenges faced by school and law enforcement personnel related to firearms, gangs, drugs, and special education laws. He also authored the book “Safety, Order, and Discipline in American Schools: Defining the Authority of Educators and Law Enforcement Personnel”. For nearly 30 years, Gary and his wife Patricia Holicek (nee Corsaro) traversed the country as business and life partners. Generations of students, teachers, administrators and allied professionals applied his practical wisdom that demystified legalities while honing in on practicalities (“If you know there’s a gun in the locker, but you lack probable cause for a search, go get the gun! The worst thing that happens is that kids are safe but you can’t prosecute.”). Gary ensured that his students always knew that, and how, they could act decisively without risking personal liability. Kind and empathetic, a gifted storyteller with a bottomless well of humor and a booming voice, Gary left an indelible impression on those he met. He mentored many who went on to successful careers themselves. After more than a decade of health challenges, Gary passed into the next life on December 13, 2019. His children knew that no matter what, throughout his life, Gary consistently did the best he could and he forever yearned to foster connections with those for whom he cared a great deal. Gary is survived by his four children from his first marriage (with Catherine “Kitty” Busher, nee Callinan) and a host of step-children/grandchildren from his second marriage to Patricia Holicek.
Christian memorial service will be held Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Body of Christ Community Church, 38057 Erie Rd. Willoughby, OH 44094.
Contributions may be made in memory of Gary to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101 Cleveland, OH 44192.