A farewell to Bob Faiss, the nicest man I ever met

Bob Faiss was far and away the kindest, nicest man I’ve ever met.

A shareholder at Lionel, Sawyer & Collins, and chairman of the firm’s gaming and regulatory law department, Faiss was widely regarded as one of the foremost gaming attorneys in the world. He literally wrote the book on gaming law, “Gaming Regulation and Gaming Law in Nevada, As Remembered by Robert D. Faiss.”

Faiss died in his beloved hometown of Boulder City late Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 79. He will be missed by many, including me.

Faiss had a way of making you feel as if you were the most important person in the room, no matter who else was in that room. You could tell from the way others interacted with him that he treated everybody this way, but it didn’t diminish his courtliness or sincerity in the least.

Quick to praise others, and extremely reluctant to talk about himself or his many accomplishments, Faiss was unfailingly polite. He once wrote in a gaming law publication that a lawyer could be as tough as necessary to represent his clients, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t also be nice. And he lived up to that, always.

Faiss harkened back to a different era in politics, one in which a disagreement over political ideas didn’t make you a blood enemy of someone with whom you disagreed. He probably got that from his father, the legendary Nevada state Sen. Wilbur Faiss, who was well known for preferring compromise and comity over conflict. (Before Wilbur Faiss’ death last year, Bob Faiss wrote a moving tribute to his dad.)

I’ll always remember the time Bob Faiss called me to correct something I’d written in my column, based on information provided by a particularly ill-informed source. Faiss wasn’t rude in the least, and he didn’t ask me to talk his word for it, although I could have. Instead, he was more than happy to fax me over pages of decades-old state Senate hearing transcripts that proved the point. I soon learned to rely on Faiss for anything and everything related to gaming law.

No matter the issue, the quietly persuasive Faiss was able to give you a new way of thinking about it. There are many people who want to re-name McCarran International Airport because of the late U.S. Sen. Pat McCarran’s well publicized dark side. I was sympathetic, until a dinnertime conversation with Faiss altered me to a key fact: Las Vegas may not ever have existed had McCarran not stepped up at a key moment in history. (As usual, Faiss took no credit, instead pointing me to the work of one of his students at UNLV’s Boyd Law School, Ryan Draney, who’d been looking into McCarran for a paper Draney was writing.)

Calm, reasoned, quick to listen and slow to speak, Faiss was the perfect counterpoint and companion to his passionate, outspoken wife, Linda, one of the partners in Las Vegas public relations firm Faiss Foley Warren. My wife worked at the firm for about seven years, and the Faisses were kind enough to offer us the use of their beautiful home in Boulder City overlooking Lake Mead for our wedding. That’s just who they were.

It cannot be said about a great many people that simply being around them was encouragement to become a better person yourself. But I can say that without reservation about Bob Faiss. It’s not a stretch in the least to say that the world, especially this small corner of it, will be worse off for his absence. He was one in a million.

Author’s note: After his death, statements came in from many elected leaders. I’ve collected them here:

Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto:

”Paul [Masto] and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Faiss, a pioneer of gaming and regulatory law.

“Bob was a mentor and good friend. Although quiet and humble by nature, he had a keen sense of politics and compassion for helping others.

“He dedicated his life to improving Nevada. Bob’s legacy will go down in history as being not only one of the best attorneys in Nevada but one of the most influential lawyers in America.

“This distinguished titan will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Linda, and children during this difficult time.”

Congresswoman Dina Titus:

“Bob Faiss was a pioneer in gaming law whose incredible intellect, integrity, and grace helped make Nevada the international gold standard for the industry.”

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid:

“Nevada is a much better place because of the Faiss family. I’m terribly saddened at the loss of my friend Bob. Bob Faiss has accomplished much for our community, and his commitment to a better Nevada has always been at the forefront of his endeavors. He is accomplished and was recognized not only as one of Nevada’s best lawyers, but as one of the best lawyers in the United States. He will be missed by many in Boulder City and throughout the state whose lives were touched by his presence. The Faiss family and their friendship has meant so much to me. Wilbur, Theresa, their three sons, and their grandchildren should be proud of their more than 70 years of contributions to the growth and success of Nevada. I send my deepest condolences to his wife Linda, and to the rest of his family and friends who are mourning the loss of this truly wonderful man.”

Gov. Brian Sandoval:

“It is with great sorrow that I learned today of the passing of my good friend, Bob Faiss. Bob will be remembered not only for his impact on the gaming industry, but for his indelible and generational contributions statewide. A legend in Carson City and throughout the state, Bob enjoyed universal respect and admiration. Most of all, Bob was a true gentleman who loved his family and state. Nevada has lost one of its true giants today. Kathleen and I send our most sincere prayers and condolences to Linda and his family and friends at this difficult time.

UPDATE: A memorial service for Faiss will be held at 3 p.m. June 13 at the Fifth Street School downtown.