The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-18
By THE OUT EASTER

When they buried Dennis J. Slavin the other day in the old St. Joseph's cemetery, we thought of his boyhood days when he roamed all parts of the cemetery, looked at the burials then being made, watched the old Grand Army come out and decorate the graves of their comrades on Memorial day, and listened to the dirges of the American band as played every time the Civil War veterans made their annual visit to the graves of their de- parted associates. It's funny how one thinks of these things, but we all know that Den Slavin was born only 8 few hundred feet from the graveyard in question, and with all of the boys of old Dublin street, spent many hours of his spare time, in and around the headstones, playing hide and seek.
 Den Slavin, you know, was the judge of probate of Waterbury for a long number of years. He suc- ceeded the late Robert A. Lowe, also a Democratic holder of the office for many years. Before he went into the probate office, he was connected with the water bu- reau, as a clerk in the little brick structure that once stood west ot the old city hall, at the corner of Leavenworth street.
 The SlavinS, various families of them, owned most of the property running along Dublin street at the corner of Silver street and along that highway for a consid- erable distance. It was around this corner that most of the mem bers of the family were born. They were all original members Of the church of the Sacred Heart, and few of the lot ever knew any other church.
 There was always an appeal in the expression of Judge Slavin, a kindly and noticeable discern ment of understanding of the peo- pie, and their ways. It was this gift of recognition that made him the successful judge of probate. in the estimation of members Of the Bar and the public who had business in that court. Sympa- thetic and thoughtful in his makeup, he gave every consider ation possible to the heirs at law of various estates. There was never any disposition to rush the affairs of the court, for Judge Slavin knew the feeling of the people interested, and gave them plenty of time, in the explanation of the law, so that they might know just what procedure had to be taken before an estate could be legally settled. It was mainly this viewpoint, and manner of ac- tion that kept him in office for so many years. He officiated at all times in the interests of the es- tate, and the people involved. Questions that could have been waived and sent to the lawyers, he gladly answered, in order to appease the minds of the family. He never wished to offend and although he had to decide many important and delicate questions, 1t seemed his judgment was so that all of the parties involved were satisfied.
 Being an Out Easter, of course, we knew Judge Slavin. Few there were of the members of the old time families who didn't know him, especially the older lot. He was one of the few among us who never let friend or acquaintance pass without a nod, or salutation of some kind. There was that genuine smile he carried from young manhood right up to the very end. He never lost it, in all of the years he travelled to and from the center. An ardent walker, he used to foot 1t daily from his home out on Dublin street to his law office, and met many people on the way. The pleasant manner in which he greeted them with a good morn ing" or good evening"" was never forgotten. Judge Slavin just paved his way into the heart Of many an unknown person by a natural disposition to be friendly.
 In our own case, we spent many pleasant hours in his company. We gained by it, we improved by it, because we just listened to the conversation of the Judge and his party. Learned men they were and the discussion or subject was far beyond us, but we were there Hs the judge wanted us to be. Tho