Angela in the News

ANGELA DENTICE: ADVOCATE FOR THE LESS POWERFUL

By: Bob Ruggieri

Throughout her career as a trial lawyer and, before that, as a teacher of disabled children, M. Angela Dentice has focused on advocating for the rights and needs of injured children and adults. It is something for which she says she has a �passion.�

A practicing attorney since 1985, when she graduated from Marquette Law School, Dentice established her law firm in 2000. A new chapter is about to open up for her. On May 3, she will combine her law firm with Pitman, Kyle & Sicula, S.C. The new firm will be known as Pitman, Kyle, Sicula & Dentice, S.C.

Dentice�s skill and dedication to her work have been recognized a number of times over the years. The most recent occasion was in December of 2009 when the Wisconsin Association for Justice (formerly the Wisconsin Association of Trial Lawyers) bestowed upon her the Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. She is the first woman to have received the award, and only the 10^th attorney to be so honored.

Mark Thomsen, who presented the award, said, �Angela has spent her entire life focused on helping those in need.� He said that the Habush Award goes to an individual who �through his/her work demonstrates a compassion and commitment to advocacy on behalf of injured consumers.�

In 2001, Dentice became the first woman president of the Wisconsin Association for Justice. In 2003, she was appointed to a statewide leadership role when she was named co-chair of the Wisconsin Women = Prosperity initiative launched by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton.

When the Wisconsin Chapter of the Justinian Society of Lawyers was formed, Dentice was the group�s first treasurer. The Justinian Society is comprised of attorneys and jurists of Italian descent and is affiliated with the National Italian American Bar Association.

A Milwaukee native, Dentice was born in the old Third Ward, in the area of Van Buren and Michigan Streets. She is the daughter of the late Joseph E. and Frances (Alioto) Dentice. One of her first jobs was at Alioto�s Italian Restaurant, started by her grandfather. The restaurant, now at Highway 100 and Burleigh, remains in the family and Dentice is one of the owners.

She graduated from Marquette University in 1970 with a business degree. The first job offer she received was that of receptionist. She turned it down and instead started doing volunteer work in Milwaukee�s central city. She then turned her attention to teaching handicapped children in Mequon, a move which was to set the stage for her lifelong passion of helping the less powerful.

Later, Dentice joined Milwaukee Public Schools as coordinator of diagnostic teams and supervisor of teachers of the handicapped. She had obtained her teacher certification and, in 1974, completed work on a master�s degree in exceptional education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Dentice started law school in 1982, the same year her son, Sam Bottoni, was born. She graduated cum laude in 1985 and joined the Hausman-McNally law firm. She moved from there to the Cannon & Dunphy law firm before opening her own firm in 2000. At one point, she was operating the only all-woman law firm in Wisconsin.

In discussing the practice of law and the clients she serves, Dentice told The Italian Times, �I have represented people in very challenging situations who display grace while going through tremendous sorrow. They give me gifts every day.�

Dentice�s husband, Benn DiPasquale, is now retired. He was a partner at Foley & Lardner, Wisconsin�s largest law firm.

Her son, Sam, is married and living in Madison. He has a master's degree in computer music from the University of Miami and is a quality assurance engineer for Sonic Foundry.