Robert Clifford was recognized as the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus at Marist High School’s second annual “A Night of Honor, Glory and Fame” at the Larry Tucker Marist SportsPlex in Palos Heights on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
Mr. Clifford, a 1969 graduate of the parochial school on Chicago’s South Side, announced he is donating $1 million to his alma mater for financial aid and scholarships to support students at the school.
In a speech to the crowd of more than 600 Marist faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and friends, Mr. Clifford said his philanthropic beliefs are due to his experiences at Marist, combined with furthering his education at a Catholic university and law school, DePaul in Chicago.
“The whole notion of coming from Marist and being part of Marist’s community has really inspired me to be someone who has tried to achieve and do good deeds,” Clifford said. “When I was told I was getting this award, they asked me to talk about experiences at Marist that mattered to me and the truth is, it wasn’t the experiences. It was the people that mattered to me and made a difference in my life. I try to pass that down to the next generation.”
Robert Clifford is the founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, an internationally recognized personal injury and wrongful death law firm, for nearly 50 years. He currently serves as lead counsel in the litigation in federal District Court in Chicago involving the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX8 that killed all 157 on board in 2019 in Ethiopia. Over the years, his firm has achieved billions in settlements and verdicts, many of them records.
For further information, contact Clifford Law Offices communications partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell) or Pammenaker@cliffordlaw.com.
Robert Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, addresses the audience at Marist High School’s alumnus event after receiving Distinguished Alumni award. Photo Courtesy of Marist High School.