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