Bridgeport attorney Peter Tsimbidaros died Jan. 2 from injuries sustained in a New Year's Day car crash. He was 50 years old.

Known as a dedicated criminal defense attorney who primarily represented juveniles, Tsimbidaros was a leader within Bridgeport's Greek-American community. He died one day after a van that Keith Commerford was driving struck his vehicle.

According to media reports, Commerford received a misdemeanor summons for a separate hit-and-run crash in the city earlier in the day. Commerford was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence in connection with Tsimbidaros' death.

In interviews Monday with the Connecticut Law Tribune, those who knew and worked with Tsimbidaros said the attorney was thoughtful, considerate and had compassion for his clients.

"He had an affinity for young people," said Jay Ruane of Shelton-based Ruane Attorneys at Law. "He took the hopeless cases. He took postconviction and juvenile work, neither of which are looked on favorably by society."

Ruane, who first met Tsimbidaros 20 years ago when Ruane was a Bridgeport public defender, continued, "He handled cases for kids who people thought had no hope, but who he thought had a chance to do good. He cared—plain and simple—and that's the hallmark of a lawyer we should all strive to be. In his heart of hearts, he believed in the goodness of people."

Ruane said Tsimbidaros was one of the sharpest attorneys he knew, and said he could have worked for any number of large firms and made more money, but chose to work with young people instead.

Tsimbidaros graduated from the University of Connecticut Law School.

"He was not a lawyer because he was going to make a million dollars, although he had the skills to do any kind of law," Ruane said. "But he was in the law to give back and do right by people."

John Capozzi went to Notre Dame High School in Fairfield with Tsimbidaros and reconnected with his friend years later when Capozzi became supervisory assistant state's attorney for juvenile matters in Bridgeport Superior Court. In that role, which he has held as a prosecutor for 16 years, Capozzi said he'd see the good work Tsimbidaros did up close.

"I saw him a few times a week in court," Capozzi said. "He knew his clients and his cases, and we always worked something out in his client's best interests. He was a vigorous advocate for his clients, most of whom were delinquent kids with criminal charges. He had a good rapport with those kids and really cared about them."

Capozzi and longtime friend Peter Karayiannis, of Bridgeport's Bradley Denkovich & Karayiannis, said Tsimbidaros was also quiet and humble. They say the attorney cared deeply about his parents and brother.

"He was quiet, steady, consistent and always reliable," Capozzi said.

Karayiannis echoed those sentiments and said his friend "was humble and quiet, but always followed through."

Karayiannis and Tsimbidaros were both involved in Bridgeport's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, where Karayiannis served as president of the board parish council and Tsimbidaros was a member. Tsimbidaros' parents were born in Greece, but he was born in Canada and spent most of his life in Bridgeport.

"He loved to travel to Greece," Karayiannis said. "He was actually on his way to see his family for a New Year's dinner when this event occurred."

Karayiannis said Tsimbidaros was a popular congregant of his church.

"He'd help anyone with any type of legal matter and would give free legal advice to the church," Karayiannis said. "He was my right-hand man, and he expected nothing in return."