With much sadness, the law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo announced the passing of Daniel F. Cracchiolo on June 1, 2022 at the age of 93.

Dan was a law legend and iconic leader in the state of Arizona in a career that spanned more than six decades. Graduating with his J.D. from the University of Arizona Law School in 1952 Dan began his law career as the Pinal County Deputy Attorney. Subsequently, he entered private practice and became one of the most formidable litigators in Arizona. In 1970 he and his close friend and partner Frank Haze Burch formed the law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo.  As the firm grew to its present size of more than 40 attorneys, it became known as one of the most prestigious in the state.

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Dan received many accolades including being a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, listed in Best Lawyers in America in two categories, and listed in every issue of Southwest Super Lawyers.  In 2003 he received an Award of Special Merit from the Arizona State Bar and was inducted into the Maricopa County State Bar Hall of Fame in 2010. Has was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Arizona in 2005 for his service to his alma mater, and the James E. Rogers School of Law at University of Arizona dedicated the Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library in his honor in 2008.

Dan was a most generous philanthropist and community steward. He served as a regent for Brophy College Preparatory, a board member and past president of COMPAS, a member of the Advisory Board of Homebase Youth Services and a board member for Childhelp USA.  His most lasting contribution was as founder, Chairman and CEO of The Steele Foundation.  Under his stewardship, the Foundation’s corpus multiplied over threefold and more than $100 million in bequests have been disbursed to beneficiaries in Arizona including Steele Indian School Park, Barrow Neurological Foundation, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Science Center, Desert Botanical Garden, Virginia Piper Cancer Center, Heard Museum and Herberger Center. The Foundation endowed the Daniel F. Cracchiolo Chair of Constitutional Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law, and in 1992 funded the Steele Pediatric Research Center at the University of Arizona.

Dan’s legacy and community imprint will be forever etched in the history and future of Arizona.