Thomas Abbenante, prominent D.C. attorney

Thomas Abbenante, a prominent Washington, D.C. criminal defense attorney, and longtime resident of Virginia and Rehoboth Beach passed away Friday, May 6, 2022.

Tom was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1950, the son of Josephine and Liberatto Abbenante.

Tom received his bachelor’s degree from American University and his law degree from Howard University.  He married Donna Marie Lord Abbenante in 1974.

He was a member of Virginia, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court bars, and practiced criminal defense and litigation in district, appeals and tax courts in the D.C. area. He was president of his own firm, where he represented clients from the highest levels of society and politics to the neediest, facing charges ranging from fraud to murder.

He was well-known for his creativity and humor in the courtroom, and his powerful and convincing legal skills, which resulted in a remarkably successful case record. 

Tom had a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating for nearly two decades, was named among the best D.C. lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine and the Washington Post for the past 15 years, and was a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. 

Tom and Donna traveled worldwide, and owned homes in Rehoboth, frequently visiting here. Tom loved the beach and exploring local restaurants, and fully enjoyed area communities and each one’s unique offerings. 

He was an excellent, discriminating and experimental cook and often enthusiastically hosted groups of friends, with whom he was endlessly generous. It was not surprising for Tom to show up at a friend’s house with one of his discoveries from a local garden or gourmet shop, or his own kitchen. He also often provided personal legal advice to his friends, and family and helped them extricate themselves from legal challenges.

Tom was well-known for his sense of humor outside the courtroom, too, and could entertain friends with an endless collection of jokes and a contagious laugh and comedian’s delivery. He also loved local establishments that offered karaoke. Tom often persuaded his large group of friends to attend and frequently enthusiastically performed.

Tom is survived by his wife, Donna Marie Lord Abbenante; his sons, Anthony Abbenante, his wife Michelle, and their children Nina, Vinny, Colette and James of Mill Valley, Calif., and Michael Abbenante of Washington, D.C.; and his brother, Robert, his wife Linda, and their son Alex of Ponte Vedra, Fla.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.