Arthur Raphael

Arthur Raphael, 85, of Plano, Texas but always a Chicagoan to his core, died on May 8, 2025, at home. He followed by two months his adored wife of 60 years, Gail Frank Raphael. Arthur had a distinguished 47-year law career, most of which was with the firm of Teller Levit & Silvertrust, P.C. a commercial law practice founded in 1920. He was president of the Chicago-area firm until September 2012. In preparation for his and Gail’s move to Texas, Arthur took the Texas Bar exam in 2009 at the age of 69 and passed easily. His formidable intellect shone in other areas as well: He was one of only 150 Board Certified Creditors’ Rights attorneys in the United States. He was at one time the Midwest chairman of the Commercial Law League of America. Despite his professional accomplishments and interests ranging from art – he drew and painted as a youth and more so in his retirement – to skydiving, which he did at 81 with his grandson Matthew, Arthur was a reticent man who had strong opinions but didn’t assert he knew what he didn’t know. He set out with Gail to travel the world and learn everything he could, then impart that knowledge and the thirst for it to his children Lance (Karolyn) Raphael and Adrienne (Aaron) Bransky and his grandchildren. Those grandchildren populated his heart – Liam, Merrick and Eryn Raphael from Indiana, and Matthew, Joshua and Sarah Bransky from Texas. “Papa” encouraged them to read at a very young age, talked to them at length about history and the news, and helped with their projects; their challenges and causes became his own. Arthur was born at Mount Siani Hospital in Chicago in 1940 to Alan Raphael, a commercial artist, and Esther (Mandel) Raphael. He had two brothers, Robert and Larry, and grew up in a charming bungalow house in the Galewood Community of Chicago with a shaggy dog named Skipper whom he never stopped missing, though there would be a regal Siberian husky named Sasha, and a crazy furball named Bandit to follow. Graduating from Austin High School in 1958, Arthur was discouraged by his parents from becoming an artist and instead started toward a medical degree, before settling on law as a career. He graduated from DePaul University with a J.D. in 1965. While living in Buffalo Grove, Arthur and Gail helped found Temple Chai, which they continued to attend and support after moving to another Chicago suburb, Northbrook. Their home was a repository for the collections they found in their travels, everything from lithographs and statues to a London phone booth and a New Orleans streetlight. But his most prized possessions were locally produced – the oil paintings his father created. On Sundays Arthur could be found in their pool listening to his favorite music – classical, opera, show tunes, Boston Pops, Frank Sinatra – or sitting in the family room voraciously reading a book. And Arthur loved watching comedies like “The In Laws,” “My Cousin Vinny” and “The Producers” almost as much as he enjoyed documentaries. If you happen to find yourself in downtown Chicago, Arthur would ask you to take in the beautiful architecture, walk along the river, and raise a stein at The Berghoff, the landmark German eatery where he enjoyed lunch practically every week while he worked next door on Adams Street. A memorial to celebrate Arthur’s life is planned for early June in Chicago. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Arthur’s memory can be made to Alzheimer’s Association.

Arthur Raphael

January 22, 1940 - May 8, 2025