The Honorable Francis Marion Allegra

October 14, 1957 ~ August 27, 2015
Memorial Contributions:
Education was so important to Fran and his wish, if you desire, was to have Memorial Contributions sent to Allegra Boys' 529 Fund. If you would like to contribute, please make your check payable to AMERICAN FUNDS and send to:
Morgan Stanley
c/o Ward Minton
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
Check Memo: Allegra Boys' 529 Fund
Francis Marion Allegra of Vienna, VA passed away on Monday August 27, 2015 at home after a long battle with brain cancer. Beloved husband of Regina Esposito, devoted father of Domenic and Vincent; son of Frank and Mary Allegra; and brother of Christine Allegra of Cleveland, OH. Also survived by Dino, Diane, and Michael Esposito of Guilford CT, Marc, Aurika, and Anthony Paul Esposito of Branford, CT, and father-in-law Anthony N. Esposito of Northford, CT, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Early Life: Fran grew up in Cleveland and graduated from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Borromeo College of Ohio in 1978, with a degree in philosophy, and then, in 1981, received his juris doctor (magna cum laude) from Cleveland-Marshall Law School at Cleveland State University. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk to Chief Trial Judge Philip R. Miller of the U.S. Court of Claims from 1981 to 1982.
From 1982 to 1984, Fran was an associate at the Cleveland law firm of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, where he specialized in tax and bond work. In 1984, he joined the Appellate Section of the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. From 1984 through 1994, he was an appellate litigator, handling many of the Tax Division's most complex cases in Federal courts of appeals throughout the country. During this period, Fran steadily rose through the ranks of the Tax Division ranks, becoming first a Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division and then Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division.
In 1994, Fran was appointed Counselor to the Associate Attorney General (the third-highest-ranking official at the Justice Department). Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Deputy Associate Attorney General. In the latter role, Judge Allegra worked with the Tax and Antitrust Divisions, as well as with the National Economic and Domestic Policy Councils at the White House.
Judicial Career: On October 22, 1998, at the age of forty-one, Judge Allegra was appointed by President Bill Clinton to be a judge on the United States Court of Federal Claims. Over his judicial career, he has issued more than 250 published opinions, on topics including tax, government contracts, intellectual property, takings, and military and civilian employment. From 2003 through 2010, Judge Allegra was a member of the Information Technology Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
Judge Allegra was an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught Litigation with the Federal Government and a seminar on sovereign immunity. In 2012, Georgetown awarded him the Charles Fahy Distinguished Adjunct Professor Award, which is given annually to an adjunct professor who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Law Center. Judge Allegra was also frequent lecturer at Federal Judicial Center programs and at other programs involving intellectual property, tax, government contracts and the use of technology in judging. He was considered an expert on issues involving electronic discovery.
In the Fall of 2013, Judge Allegra co-authored (with Daniel B Garrie), "Plugged in: Guidebook to Software and the Law" (Thomson Reuters).
Mineral Collector: Fran first became interested in minerals around the age of eight. He had a Mattel rock-polishing kit which he used feverishly, and his father would drive him out to North Olmsted (15 miles or so) to a small mineral shop where he acquired his first specimens. He also bought specimens from Lee Lapidary on the west side and Fred Harvey's shop in Terminal Tower. He soon became a regular visitor to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, studying the minerals on display. He also wrote a column"Legal Nuggets"for the Mineralogical Record, in which he brought his long experience to bear on legal matters involving minerals, mineral collecting and mineral dealing.
Professional Organizations:
* The Boys Scouts of America, Pack 976, Vienna, VA; Assistant Scout Master, Chair of Scouts Board of Directors
* National Italian American Foundation
* Sons of Italy, Washington, DC
* Co-Founder of the Friends of Charles Bonaparte, Attorney General of the United States, and founder of the FBI
* National Italian American Bar Association, First Editor of Legal Journal, The Digest
* Federal Bar Association
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolftrap Rd., Vienna, VA, on Saturday, September 12th at 1:00 PM. Interment private.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Education was so important to Fran and his wish, if you desire, was to have Memorial Contributions sent to Allegra Boys' 529 Fund. If you would like to contribute, please make your check payable to AMERICAN FUNDS and send to:
Morgan Stanley
c/o Ward Minton
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
Check Memo: Allegra Boys' 529 Fund
Francis Marion Allegra of Vienna, VA passed away on Monday August 27, 2015 at home after a long battle with brain cancer. Beloved husband of Regina Esposito, devoted father of Domenic and Vincent; son of Frank and Mary Allegra; and brother of Christine Allegra of Cleveland, OH. Also survived by Dino, Diane, and Michael Esposito of Guilford CT, Marc, Aurika, and Anthony Paul Esposito of Branford, CT, and father-in-law Anthony N. Esposito of Northford, CT, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Early Life: Fran grew up in Cleveland and graduated from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Borromeo College of Ohio in 1978, with a degree in philosophy, and then, in 1981, received his juris doctor (magna cum laude) from Cleveland-Marshall Law School at Cleveland State University. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk to Chief Trial Judge Philip R. Miller of the U.S. Court of Claims from 1981 to 1982.
From 1982 to 1984, Fran was an associate at the Cleveland law firm of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, where he specialized in tax and bond work. In 1984, he joined the Appellate Section of the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. From 1984 through 1994, he was an appellate litigator, handling many of the Tax Division's most complex cases in Federal courts of appeals throughout the country. During this period, Fran steadily rose through the ranks of the Tax Division ranks, becoming first a Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division and then Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division.
In 1994, Fran was appointed Counselor to the Associate Attorney General (the third-highest-ranking official at the Justice Department). Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Deputy Associate Attorney General. In the latter role, Judge Allegra worked with the Tax and Antitrust Divisions, as well as with the National Economic and Domestic Policy Councils at the White House.
Judicial Career: On October 22, 1998, at the age of forty-one, Judge Allegra was appointed by President Bill Clinton to be a judge on the United States Court of Federal Claims. Over his judicial career, he has issued more than 250 published opinions, on topics including tax, government contracts, intellectual property, takings, and military and civilian employment. From 2003 through 2010, Judge Allegra was a member of the Information Technology Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
Judge Allegra was an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught Litigation with the Federal Government and a seminar on sovereign immunity. In 2012, Georgetown awarded him the Charles Fahy Distinguished Adjunct Professor Award, which is given annually to an adjunct professor who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Law Center. Judge Allegra was also frequent lecturer at Federal Judicial Center programs and at other programs involving intellectual property, tax, government contracts and the use of technology in judging. He was considered an expert on issues involving electronic discovery.
In the Fall of 2013, Judge Allegra co-authored (with Daniel B Garrie), "Plugged in: Guidebook to Software and the Law" (Thomson Reuters).
Mineral Collector: Fran first became interested in minerals around the age of eight. He had a Mattel rock-polishing kit which he used feverishly, and his father would drive him out to North Olmsted (15 miles or so) to a small mineral shop where he acquired his first specimens. He also bought specimens from Lee Lapidary on the west side and Fred Harvey's shop in Terminal Tower. He soon became a regular visitor to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, studying the minerals on display. He also wrote a column"Legal Nuggets"for the Mineralogical Record, in which he brought his long experience to bear on legal matters involving minerals, mineral collecting and mineral dealing.
Professional Organizations:
* The Boys Scouts of America, Pack 976, Vienna, VA; Assistant Scout Master, Chair of Scouts Board of Directors
* National Italian American Foundation
* Sons of Italy, Washington, DC
* Co-Founder of the Friends of Charles Bonaparte, Attorney General of the United States, and founder of the FBI
* National Italian American Bar Association, First Editor of Legal Journal, The Digest
* Federal Bar Association
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolftrap Rd., Vienna, VA, on Saturday, September 12th at 1:00 PM. Interment private.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Fran was a wonderful colleague who I had the distinct pleasure of working with at the Department of Justice. His commitment to public service and the citizens of the United States will never be forgotten. He will be greatly missed by me and countless others.
Dear Regina, My deepest condolences and sympathy to you, your boys, and Fran’s parents in your suffering from this devastating loss. Besides his many outstanding professional accomplishments described in Wikipedia, Fran also was a really fine trumpet player. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I will definitely attend the funeral.
Dear Regina, I was truly blessed to have Fran come into my life, though wish the circumstances would have been for a different reason. We became friends from the start, and it was a privilege to be involved in his cancer care. You have been an amazing wife and caregiver to him and I greatly admire your courage and steadfast ability to remain on course and address his needs, no matter how difficult they may have been. Please stay in touch with me, always. You and I too share a special bond. Lillie Shockney Johns Hopkins Hospital
Fran will be missed by me and by all his friends in the mineral world! We came up together over so many years…I am happy it was a respite and fun adventure away from his job, and that we spent so much time together “talking rocks.” hopefully the boys will continue to share his passion for the minerals.
To the Allegra Family, May you find peace in knowing what a great man Fran was. I had the pleasure of knowing Fran through Laura Damiano. I especially enjoyed the time that I spent with Fran and his family in Virginia a few years ago. He will be missed. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. ~Catherine Knoblauch
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all…
Our heartfelt condolences to you and the boys. In our thoughts and prayers, Ken, Marilyn, Kevin and Darryl
To Regina and the boys, we are so sorry to here about Fran’s passing! He was always such a cheerful man. If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know. Chris, Sherry, Sofia, Aristo Maggio
Dear Regina, Domenic, and Vincent, I am so sorry about the loss of your husband and father. I was a law clerk and then a staff attorney at the court, and Judge Allegra was always a bright spot on the 7th floor. The last time I stopped by to visit his chambers, he welcomed me in and took the time to chat and ask about how I was doing. He was kind and fair and had a brilliant legal mind. His law clerks always loved and respected him. It’s simply not fair that he’s been taken from you so young. My thoughts and sympathies are with you. Sincerely, Sarah VanWye
Dear Regina, Domenic and Vinny, Our heartfelt prayers are with all of you. Fran was a wonderful husband and father whose generous spirit, intellect, and sense of humor will live on through his sons. The McNiff Family
Peace, love, strength, hugs and prayers to you and the boys. With my deepest sorrow for your loss. Tracy
Dearest Regina, Vin and. Dom , Our heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. Hold your love for Fran and the love he had for you and the boys, in your heart forever .God Bless you. Love, cousin Nancy and Vinnie. Xoxo
My deepest condolences to you, Regina and your sons. He was a fine man. He lived his life well. Thinking of you at this time and always.
I met Fran at one of the boys’ preschool birthday parties. I didn’t know until now that he was a judge! Regina, I am so very sorry for your loss at this time. I remember so enjoying talking with you together in the pool during our boys’ swim lessons over ten years ago. Please drink a cup of hot chocolate–warm milk is supposedly good in times like these. You and the boys are loved.
Regina I am so sorry for you and your family’s loss.
Regina, I am soo sorry for the loss of your husband. You and your family are in my heart and prayers. Draw comfort on the beautiful prayer you shared. Loving you and your children. Blessings of peace sent your way. Love you
Regina I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your husband. You and the boys are in my thoughts and prayers.
Regina, I am so sorry for your loss. I just read the Obituary and though I didn’t know Fran he sounds like a terrific guy. As a fellow Attorney I can see that he was amazingly accomplished in his career. You must have been so proud of him. As a fellow Italian I KNOW he must have been a loving and funny and sweet guy. Your kids have lost an amazing Dad and it is not fair. All my love to all of you and God Bless.
Regina, We offer our love and heartfelt prayers to the boys and you during this time. Remember many years ago, while you were visiting us in Augusta, you told us about this real nice guy you met at a Sons of Italy meeting – Fran! May our Lord Jesus bless and keep you – and guide Fran to his everlasting light!
Regina, We offer our love and heartfelt prayers to the boys and you during this time. Remember many years ago, while you were visiting us in Augusta, you told us about this real nice guy you met at a Sons of Italy meeting – Fran! May our Lord Jesus bless and keep you – and guide Fran to his everlasting light!
Regina, Domenic and Vinny, There really are no words to help you bear the sorrow you feel, but know that there are many who will be praying for you in the days, weeks and months ahead that you will find the strength to make it through this most difficult time. Fran was always there with a smile on his face. He will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time. If there is anything we can do for you please let us know. Sincerely Aileen, Reed ,Michael, Patrick, Elizabeth and Steven Black
Dear Godfather and Aunt Mary, my heart is broken, such a great man, we will miss him so much, words fail me. God Bless you and Christine. All my love Joanne
Dearest Regina and Boys….My deepest sympathy at the loss of Fran…Husband, Father and friend! May you find strength in your faith and in your many, many happy memories! With love,
Regina, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the boys during this very difficult time. The Kieler Family
Dear Regina, We are so sorry for your loss of dear Fran. We are keeping you, Domenic and Vinny in our thoughts and prayers. Love, The Collins Family Brad, Andrea, Lauren and Nicole oxox
Dear Regina, By pure chance my eyes fell on the nice photo plus death notice for Fran, that appeared in the Washington Post. Sara and I are so sorry to read the sad news. We remember with fondness the nice times that we had at the house of Francesco and Anna Isgro’, and also at Casa Italiana. With kindest regards to you, Regina, and your sons — John and Sara Perrotta
Dear Regina, By pure chance my eyes fell on the nice photo plus death notice for Fran, that appeared in the Washington Post. Sara and I are so sorry to read the sad news. We remember with fondness the nice times that we had at the house of Francesco and Anna Isgro’, and also at Casa Italiana. With kindest regards to you, Regina, and your sons — John and Sara Perrotta
Dear Regina, By pure chance my eyes fell on the nice photo plus death notice for Fran, that appeared in the Washington Post. Sara and I are so sorry to read the sad news. We remember with fondness the nice times that we had at the house of Francesco and Anna Isgro’, and also at Casa Italiana. With kindest regards to you, Regina, and your sons — John and Sara Perrotta
Dear Regina, By pure chance my eyes fell on the nice photo plus death notice for Fran, that appeared in the Washington Post. Sara and I are so sorry to read the sad news. We remember with fondness the nice times that we had at the house of Francesco and Anna Isgro’, and also at Casa Italiana. With kindest regards to you, Regina, and your sons — John and Sara Perrotta
Dear Regina, Our hearts go out to you, Domenic and Vinny during this very difficult time. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our love and prayers are with you. With Love, Bill, Bridgette, Sam and Jack
It was with much sadness that we heard of Fran’s passing. His life was blessed and rich….and because words will never fully ameliorate your pain, please know our prayers entreat God to bring you all comfort, strength, and wisdom.
Please accept our deepest sympathies in the loss of Judge Allegra to his family, and to his larger Scouting family. He was hugely influential to my sons – Eric and Sean, in their Scouting journey – and to countless sons across Northern Virginia. A simple nod of the head from Judge Allegra spoke volumes that “you are on the right track”, when presenting a class to Scout Leaders. I will miss his quiet mentorship from this giant in our community; and, his Scouting family is with you in mourning his loss. The Grapin family – Mark, Brinda, Eric and Sean.
Dear Regina, We have not met, but I wanted to send my sincerest condolences for the loss of your husband, the wonderful Fran Allegra. I met Fran when he came to Buffalo, NY to interview me for an internship with the Tax Division. I truly believe that, if it were not for Fran, I would not have taken the job as a Trial Attorney with Tax and my life would have been so very different. I regret that I never really took the chance to express to Fran how much his mentorship meant to me, but I hope that you and your sons will feel the warm of my gratitude. God Bless.
Dear Mrs. Allegra, Domenic and Vincent: I served as lead attorney for plaintiff Jay Dobyns in one of Judge Allegra’s final trials. Judge Allegra’s brilliance, complete control of his courtroom, and sense of humor, were on display every minute. At closing argument, when I said I would not interchange two legal terms the way I had during trial, Judge Allegra said in the nearly full courtroom: “don’t make promises you can’t keep, Mr. Reed.” During the seven years of this lawsuit and the three weeks of trial, Judge Allegra made me a better lawyer and a more insightful person. I am so sorry for your loss, and I send you my deepest sympathies.
Regina, Domenic, and Vinny, Please know how very hard our family has prayed for you, and continues to do so. Boys, your Dad is an amazing man, and I see him in both of you. May you know God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding. Please reach out if there is anything we can do. I love ya, Sistah!! The Saied Family
We will always remember your smile, your humor and our tennis games. We love you dearly Peter and Cristiana
Dear Regina, Domenic, and Vinny, You are in our prayers. We will remember Fran as the kind, smiling father always willing to be the scorekeeper at basketball games. You could see the pride in his eyes when he talked about Domenic or Vinny. The Angus Family–Brian, Marissa, and Wendy
Dear Regina, My prayers are you and your family in this difficult time. Please know that we are here for you and your children. Meanwhile, be strong and may God give your peace and comfort. In my prayers and thoughts, The Ishizuka Family
We loved Fran. His cheerfulness and story telling made running into him when out walking or doing yardwork a real delight. It was painful to watch him losing the battle with cancer. He shared some memories of court cases he felt really made a difference in some folks lives, which was nice. I’m sure there were many more. What a wonderful human being. Our hearts go out to Regina, the boys and all Fran’s family and friends.
Please accept my sincerest condolences. As a faculty member at Georgetown law, I knew well Judge Allegra’s sterling reputation as a teacher and mentor to our students. His passing is a significant loss for our Law Center community.
I want to wish you might deepest condolences. I remember Fran from Borromeo and St. Ed’s. While I work with Maryknoll in Cambodia I was able to follow his work and remember him through the internet.I was very proud of his service of justice throughout his life. Again, my sincerest sympathy. Fr. Kevin Conroy
Fran and I were law clerks at the U.S. Claims Court in 1981-82. We both worked in the Tax Division at DOJ in the early to mid ’80s. Fran, however, was more than a work colleague. He was a very good friend, and he was my best man at my wedding. When I moved from DC to Roanoke, we did not keep in touch as often as I wished, but we did follow each other’s careers. Fran was funny, loyal, intelligent and had a keen legal mind. My thoughts and prayers go out for his family. I will miss my friend.
To The Family and Friends of Francis, Although no words can really help to ease the loss your family bears, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer. My heart is with you and your family in your time of sorrow. James 4: 8