Frank Trusty, long-time respected lawyer and judge and public servant, has died.
The Kenton County Attorney’s office issued the following statement:
With great sadness, we announce the death of former Commonwealth’s Attorney and Judge Frank O. Trusty, II, who passed away peacefully at his Park Hills home earlier (Thursday).
Judge Trusty is survived by his wife, Marylin, four sons, and several grandchildren.
Judge Trusty began his lengthy career in public service as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.
In 1977, he was elected Commonwealth’s Attorney and served until 1984. He would later become Kenton County’s first full-time public advocate before taking the bench. Judge Trusty served as both a Circuit Judge and a District Judge before his retirement.
In 2012, Judge Trusty returned to his roots and was sworn in again as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Kenton County where he volunteered his time, pro-bono, prosecuting the preliminary hearing docket.
Frank was both beloved and notorious in the community. He was an outstanding litigator as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. As a judge, he was fair, efficient, and straight-forward. No one ever had to guess where he stood or what he meant. He did not mince words.
We will miss Frank’s wisdom, humor, friendship, and never-ending spirit.
Robert Sanders, an attorney, was a long-time friend and colleague. He said last week, when Trusty was under hospice care:
Frank O. Trusty, II, one of my dearest and most treasured friends in the world, is very ill and under hospice care. He is a great lawyer, one of the best prosecutors who ever suited up to go to trial.
When he left the Commonwealth Attorney’s position, Frank became the first Director of the Kenton Public Defenders Program. He transformed the PD’s office from a rotating roster of volunteers into an office of full-time professionals.
He then served as a Judge on both the Kenton Circuit Court and the Kenton District Court. Upon retirement from the bench, he returned to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, where he served, pro bono, as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for several years, until sidelined by failing health a few months ago.
He is a devoted husband; a beloved Dad; and, for me, another brother. I love the man. I hope you will join me in saying prayers for Frank and his family.
Tom Gather, Ludlow artist, was a friend. He wrote on Facebook:
Frank and I played tennis at least once a week every summer for years and years and years.
Most people who knew and admired Frank did so because of his knowledge and skills in the courtroom but Frank’s appreciation and dedication to the game of tennis made him equally admired by his tennis partners and opponents alike.
I believe there was nothing pretentious about Frank. He quickly offered his opinions but was never angered if you didn’t share them. Frank was very comfortable to be with and, without fail, every Christmas Season we would have a glass of wine from a bottle he would bring to my gallery.
Frank was my friend. I’m better for it. I’ll miss him.
Funeral arrangements will be announced
Thursday night I sat down at the river front on the Ohio River after singing My Old Kentucky Home for the Grand opening of twenty six year for the Newport Italian Festival. I decided, since Ms. June was home sick, I would rest by the River where I parked my little gift from Cindy who had gone onto heaven, her 2001 Chevy S 10 which carried my 400 lb carcus and my walker down to the Festival.
I sat their trying to regain my strength and many thoughts past my mind. I was resting sitting there when some young folk’s came walking down to see the river and said hello, I decided to reach out to them as a old Goverment & History teacher and sang them a little melody of You Are So Beautiful to God. After which I decided to fllm a rendition of The entire song, My Old Kentucky Home as I sat there with the sounds of the river flowing by and the festivities of the festival. My life being spared by God a little over a year ago with sadle bloods clots over both lungs and the use for life of some miracle drug called Xarelto. I felt after singing the song the need to say a prayer to God for all the strife, anger, and hostility in our culture and political demeanor which I feel has been tearing our country and World a part at the seams. A brush with death has a way of getting your attention. I thought the many funerals I have attended, Bill Robinson, Jackie Robinson, Jim Bunning and members and family of my Simon Kenton High Class 1961 and other close friends and face book friends as I sat there and prayed for all and our Country and world. Asking God for his will for my pumanary rehab and long time political friend Frank Trusty who pass on to Heaven the same day, Thursday that I was praying on the Ohio River bank. Life is truly short and we never know when God will call us into accountability for the life we live. God judges us all in due time. All these folk’s were great civic leaders, and public servants and church leaders for Christ in many ways. All of us come short of the Glory of God, thankfully He sent His Son to die for all of our sins, if we just simply invite him into our hearts and confess our sins to him and ask for His forgiveness. Tonight, I miss all my friends but I am convinced that they had Jesus Christ in their hearts. I just pray all in our Country and World when they here the words Jesus spoke, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6. Our Kentucky Commonwealth Motto is, United We Stand, Devided We Fall Let us use the examples set by these men and women to work hard in our beliefs but to never forget His Godly Principles and always Praise the Lord.