Despite his many public roles, Carl M. Buchholz was a private man who showed only respect and ­positivity to others, whether it be in the face of a challenging legal matter or the lengthy illness that ultimately took his life Monday.

Buchholz, the managing partner of DLA Piper’s Philadelphia office and former managing partner of Blank Rome, died at age 51 after what DLA Piper partner James Brogan said was a long illness. A family friend said he died after a yearlong battle with cancer.