David Leonard Cwik, 70, of Chicago, died on May 21, 2025 after a brief illness. An attorney of the first rank, he built a successful estate planning and probate practice from his office on North Avenue, where he served the people of Galewood and the Northwest Side of Chicago for almost 30 years. The son of Olga (née Budzinski), a bookkeeper and homemaker, and Leonard Cwik, a postman and veteran of the Second World War, he grew up in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood with his brother Tom and sister Judy, attending public school and graduating from Lane Tech. As an undergraduate at Northwestern, he commuted to classes from his parents’ bungalow near Fullerton and Central and worked nights to help pay for his education.
After earning his degree, he went to Notre Dame Law School, and then on to the firms of Pretzel & Stouffer and Bernie Nevorral & Associates before opening his own practice. He was a true “neighborhood lawyer” of the old school, but also an adventurous and innovative attorney who took on cases that stretched around the world.
He was a man of many passions – food, travel, friends, family, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, business, biking, pickleball, and his hometown of Chicago. He was a supportive and engaged father and relished the role of “Grandpa Dave.” A mentor of many, he was generous with his time and accumulated knowledge to those he believed in, and a benefactor of several causes in the Chicago area. He was generous and gentlemanly, stubborn and exacting but never stinting in praise for those who met his standards.
He is survived by his wife, Dorota, and her sons, Piotr and Wojciech; his children, Bryan, Marissa, Stefan, and Jesse; his brother Tom and sister Judy; many grandchildren; and many associates and friends, whom he always treated as family.
A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, July 11 from 4 to 9 p.m. at The Elms Funeral Home 7600 W. Grand Ave. (turn north at 76th Ave.), Elmwood Park. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 12 at St. William Church, 2600 N. Sayre Ave., Chicago. Interment will be private at the Budzinski/Cwik family plot in St. Adalbert Cemetery, Niles.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Dom Samotney Matki/Holy Family Single Mother’s House. 2456 N. Newcastle Ave., Chicago, IL 60707 or to a charitable cause of your choice, or just pick up the check the next time you’re at dinner, to keep the spirit of his generosity and hospitality alive (“since you have been my guest, beneath my roof / you need not wander anymore. You have / endured enough: you will get home again.” Homer, Odyssey 13.4-6)