On January 16, 2025, from the arms of his beloved family, Dennis “DC” Charles Anthony Marcelino Cronin passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dennis leaves behind his wife and soulmate, Theresa; son, Marvin Rhone; brother, Dr. David Currier Cronin II and his wife, Catherine; sister, Dana Marie Genarelli and her husband, Dennis; eight nieces and nephews; and chosen family. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, David Currier Cronin and Antoinette Gugliotti Cronin.
Born September 16, 1960, in Waterbury, CT, and raised in the working-class neighborhood of Naugatuck, CT, Dennis graduated in 1978 from Connecticut’s Holy Cross High School, in 1982 from Fairfield University, and in 1985 received his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law.
Dennis chose the law, or the law chose him, as some folks have been heard to say.
He began his legal career in 1984 as a Rule 9 Legal Intern through Gonzaga University Legal Assistance Clinic, a Rule 123 Intern in the Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office, Spokane Legal Services Reginald Heber Fellowship, and was hired in 1987 by the late civil rights icon, L. Carl Maxey, from whom he received the moniker “DC”. Since 1986, Dennis’ commitment to justice resulted in appellate cases, both published and non-published in the Eastern District and Ninth Circuit.
Just two generations after Dennis’ Irish-Canadian and Italian great-grandparents immigrated to the United States seeking the American Dream, in 2003 Dennis founded The Law Office of D.C. Cronin, based upon the values of service, rigorous preparation, candor, perseverance, and persistence on behalf of those who struggle to access justice.
Dennis’ passion to be of service was demonstrated by his professional and civic leadership including his service through Spokane County Superior Court as Commissioner Pro Tem from 2005 through 2015, as Chair of the Spokane County Bar Association Family Law Section from 2008 through 2022, Chair of the Washington State Bar Association LGBT Section, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Washington Chapter, and Northwest Mediation Center Board of Directors. Dennis also served the City of Spokane as Chair of the Human Rights and Ethics Commissions.
Dennis’ passion for justice was demonstrated by his comprehensive study of the law and his determination for all people to be afforded access to justice, to be treated with dignity and respect within the courts, and to have the law applied fairly to all, regardless of resources, culture, or language.
To this end, in December 2020, Dennis submitted a proposed General Rule to the Washington State Supreme Court’s Rules Committee, in part stating, “The challenges of 2020 have afforded unprecedented opportunities…to equitably access substantive and procedural justice in all Superior Court Domestic Relations systems, the people of Washington State imminently require innovative, timely, cost effective, and efficient transformative options statewide. A general statewide IDRT Rule.”
On November 14, 2022, the Washington State Supreme Court adopted Washington State Court General Rule 40: Informal Family Law Trials, effective January 1, 2023. GR 40 IFLT promotes a less adversarial process for families, requires consistency in procedural processes to reduce associated risks of trauma which are compounded by the system itself. The statewide court rule begins to address the impact on families experiencing access barriers, overwhelmingly those most disparately impacted by the justice system as a whole, low-income families, people of color, victims of violence, mental health, substance, and justice-involved persons as they attempt to navigate through an overburdened legal system.
The pinnacle of his career was the establishment of the Sandy Williams Justice Center, a program of the Carl Maxey Center, founded by his dear friend, the late Sandy Williams. It was Dennis’ great honor to serve in a volunteer capacity as the Carl Maxey Center General Counsel, as well as the Legal Director and Senior Supervising Attorney for the Sandy Williams Justice Center. Providing free drop-in legal advice clinics, since its inaugural clinic on April 16, 2023, thanks to volunteer attorneys, law students, and legal professionals, as of January 16, 2025, the Sandy Williams Justice Center had provided legal advice and information to over one thousand individuals.
The Carl Maxey Center and the Sandy Williams Justice Center brought Dennis’ commitment to the profession of law full circle as he saw his legal dream come true – ensuring the future continuation of the work of his friend and mentor, the late Carl Maxey.
As he wrote in his 1982 application to Gonzaga University School of Law, “For the past few years, the primary goal in my life has been to become a competent legal aid lawyer…I have increasingly felt a moral commitment to aid the many disadvantaged people living in our society. This commitment is unshakable…Consequently, nothing shall prohibit my eventual fulfillment of this goal…” Over the past 43 years, Dennis stayed true to his moral commitment, “Walk humbly with God, Love Mercy, and Seek Justice.”
As always with his dry humor, Dennis asked Theresa to share, “Don’t worry and don’t get complacent. I’m still pursuing judicial reform and poverty law, just from a different venue.”
Theresa and Marvin extend heartfelt appreciation to DC’s Cronin Crew, Becca Gause, Peggy Kilgore, Angel Palmer, Al Judge with special thanks to Gloria Finn Porter, Jill Cornaggia, Walter Kendricks, Jillisa Winkler, Shayla Maxey, Mrs. Wilhelmenia Williams, Rick and Barb Williams and Family, Renika and Andrew Williams, Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, the Cedonia Church Family, the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, and Randy Brandt.
A Homegoing Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 3909 W. Rowan Ave., Spokane, with Pastor Walter J. Kendricks officiating. Service of Christian Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m., at the Cedonia Community Church and Cemetery, 4562 WA-25, Hunters, WA, with Pastor Ed Dashiell and Pastor Walter J. Kendricks officiating.