Milwaukee attorney Nancy Gruber, wife of David Gruber, the city’s highest-profile lawyer, has died.
She, her husband and their son, Steven, have primarily run Milwaukee-based Gruber Law Offices, believed to be one of the largest personal injury law firms in the country. Nancy Gruber died on June 7.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Nancy Gruber graduated from Nicolet High School and then attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She later attended Marquette University Law School, where she graduated cum laude in 1983. It was at Marquette that then-Nancy Rice met her future husband.
She initially focused on insurance defense litigation before switching to the plaintiff’s side of personal injury law, as her passion aligned more closely with advocating for those who had been seriously injured, according to profile of her on the law firm’s website.
Nancy Gruber joined her husband at Gruber Law Offices in 1996 and together helped lead the firm on a path of tremendous growth. She worked as attorney for more than 40 years. While her husband is the firm’s brash pitchman, with his “One call, that’s all!” slogan, she appeared with him in some of Gruber Law Office’s ubiquitous TV spots.
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In a March 2020 Milwaukee Magazine profile of David Gruber, he was quick to praise his wife’s talents.
“My wife grew up in Bayside and graduated near the very top of our law school class. I did not,” he said. “She’s articulate, bright and got great grades. I’m a New Jersey street fighter, so personal injury work fits my personality. People used to think we were the ‘Odd Couple.’”
They were married for more than 40 years.
In the profile, Steven Gruber noted that his parents brought complementary skills and styles to the job.
“My mom is very detail-oriented, analytical. Dad takes more of a global, visionary approach,” he says. “Their skill sets balance nicely.” The couple also have a daughter, Lauren (known as Jojo), a physician assistant in pediatric oncology at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
The Grubers have been strong advocates for charitable giving, community involvement and philanthropy, including partnerships with the Milwaukee Brewers; Milwaukee Bucks; Marquette University, UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee sports teams; the MACC Fund; Summerfest; and The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Gruber Law Offices also sponsors tents and tables at a variety of community festivals.
The Grubers were often seen together at local sporting events.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Nancy Gruber, a cherished part of the Bucks family and a proud Milwaukee native,” the Milwaukee Bucks stated in a social media post on Sunday. “As a minority owner, Nancy was a longtime courtside fixture at Bucks games alongside her husband, David. Through Gruber Law Offices, she was also a valued partner to our organization and the Milwaukee community.”
The post goes on to state that Nancy Gruber was a “committed philanthropist and community leader whose generosity and spirit touched countless lives across Wisconsin.”
“She had a way of making people feel welcome and valued, and her warmth brought a sense of joy and connection to those around,” the Bucks statement said.
In addition to her husband and children, Nancy Gruber is survived by four grandchildren.
