Class Notes Archive - 1970's
Class of 1970
Marsha Dick Bilzin
It is trite to say, but truly, where have the years gone? Brian and I lived in Miami, Fla., for almost 25 years after starting out our careers in NYC. Brian is the senior partner of a 100+/-lawyer firm (Bilzin, Sumberg) and practices transactional law. I retired three years ago from a small firm (Stuzin and Camner) where I specialized in representing financial institutions. Since my retirement, I focus on playing bridge and tennis and becoming as good at them as I can be at my age (which I am afraid is not all that good!) We have two wonderful sons, Jonathan (33) and Andrew (29) (both of whom work in the financial world), a terrific daughter-in-law, Caryn (married to Jonathan), and an adorable and precious grandaughter, Rachel (2 1/2). We have a summer home in Easthampton, N.Y., where we are able to spend lots of time with our children and grandchild, all of whom live in NYC. We feel very fortunate to have led the lives we lead and we hope to continue to do so. (8/05)
Laurence J. Gillis
I retired from the courtroom after 33 years and now teach college courses on legal research and constitutional law. In January, February, and March, my teaching is online (from Florida). I had my own radio show for a while. (8/05)
Peter Janus
Peter Janus was inducted as a Fellow of the College and Employment Lawyers on July 9, 2000 during the ABA's Annual Meeting. He will also be attending the London, England portion of the ABA annual meeting.
Ira Klein
Ira was recently appointed Vice President and General Counsel of Technology & Marketing Ventures, Inc. a New York City based tax and technology consulting firm. Prior to the appointment, Ira was senior tax counsel of Union Carbide Corporation and Dow Chemical Company. In July, Ira delivered a presentation at Oxford University, UK, at the 5th International Conference on Social Values. The paper he presented was "Technology Transfers and Social Values." The paper will be published by Oxford University Press. (8/02)
A. Joseph Ross
After working for a couple of years for the Brookline Rent Control Board, I've practiced solo in downtown Boston since 1975, with a concentration in landlord-tenant law. I've drafted some legislation, taught seminars, and argued some leading cases in the field and I've had a lot of fun at it. I'm also a Brookline Town Meeting member and a member of the Democratic Town Committee. (8/05)
Peter L. Rupert
I'm retired from private law practice from Hinman and Straub, a large law firm in Albany. For the past four years I worked part-time as the Home Rule Counsel in the N.Y. State Senate at the Capitol, which is only four blocks from my condo in downtown. I also advise the Majority Leader on local government issues. I am very busy during Session, but off most of the summer. I live and work within walking distance from where I was born, grew up and went to public school. I am a widower and still single. My daughter is pregnant and expecting her first child. I love golf, biking, cross country skiing and travel. I just returned from Scandinavia. (8/05)
Bruce A. Webster
Bruce Webster has been elected President of the Western Chapter of the Energy Bar Association which is a national organization for attorneys active in energy law. The Western Chapter encompasses 12 western states and parts of Canada and Mexico. Bruce is also president and co-founder of Concordia Resources, Inc., an oil and gas production company. Bruce and his wife, Joan, live in the Sierra foothills in northern California. 6/14/06
Class of 1971
Mick Lerner
Mick Lerner of the Law Office of Mick Lerner, PA in Overland Park, Kansas has been elected a Trustee of the American Inns of Court Foundation. He will serve a four-year term as the Tenth Circuit Trustee, beginning July 1, 2004.
Mick Lerner graduated from Stanford University in 1966 with a degree in political science, and in 1971 obtained his law degree (J.D.) from Boston University Law School, where he was an editor of the law review. He is a member of the Kansas and Missouri Bars; the Bar of the United States Supreme Court; the Bars of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal and has handled cases in over 25 states during his career.
Before starting the Law office of Mick Lerner in 1995, Mr. Lerner was a litigation attorney with Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. in Kansas City. He has represented major national manufacturers and participated in one of the largest antitrust cases in history. He recently worked with the U.S. Department of Justice on a False Claims Act case that generated the largest settlement in the history of that Act.
Mr. Lerner has held leadership positions in the Kansas City Area Development Council, the Overland Park Economic Development Council, the local statewide division and unit of the American Cancer Society, Leadership Overland Park, the Johnson County Community College Foundation, the Overland Park Rotary Club and the Overland Park Rotary Club Foundation. In 1994, he was named "Boss Of the Year" by the Johnson County chapter of the Kansas Association of Legal Secretaries. In 1991, as president of the local unit of the American Cancer Society, the organization raised over $1 million for the first time in its history. He has been an active Master of the Bench in the Earl E. O'Connor American Inn of Court, in Overland Park, Kansas, since 1998 and has served in various leadership positions including President in 2003.
Mr. Lerner has participated in four citywide ethics seminars the O’Connor Inn has presented, serving as a presenter in two of them. He has also planned and organized the joint meeting of the three Kansas Inns of Court held in 2000, attended by Justice Stephen Breyer and all of the judges of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The American Inns of Court is a national legal association comprised of over 24,000 federal, state and local judges, lawyers, law professors and law students in some 345 chapters across the United States. The American Inns of Court is dedicated to promoting ethics, civility, and professionalism through mentoring and educational programs at the local level. The American Inns of Court was the vision of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, who was instrumental in founding the first American Inn in 1980. Today, the American Inns of Court continues to be one of the fastest growing legal organizations in the country. (6/04)
Michael Miller
Michael has drafted or assisted in drafting all of Florida's laws pertaining to the employee leasing industry (PEO industry). He was recently named by Pro Emp Journal (an industry trade magazine) as one of the most influential people in America in the PEO industry. At the request of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, he recently delivered a series of speeches regarding the PEO industry and its responsibilities involving the laws administered by EEOC. He is currently assisting the Children's Cancer Group, the Pediatric Oncology Group and other children's cancer groups with their first ever combined meeting which is to take place in Tampa in April 2000. (11/01)
Class of 1972
Bruce J. Berman
Bruce recently joined the firm of McDermott, Will & Emery as a partner in the firm's Trial Department. He focuses his practice in commercial litigation, including securities, financing, intellectual property and commercial real estate disputes.
David A. Bower
David died early Tuesday morning, February 5, 2002, after battling cancer for more than five years. He lived a full life as a loving son, husband, father, brother, friend, and member of the community. With his signature crew cut and friendly smile, Dave was a respected real estate attorney in Bangor, where he practiced law for 30 years. He operated his own practice since 1993. In the community, he was on the board for both the Red Cross and the United Way, and served as a coach throughout his adult life. His lifelong interest in sports began as a little leaguer and varsity athlete in Brewer and continued as a supportive coach, actively involved in youth sports, with Bangor East Side Little League for 18 years as a baseball coach and president, and at the YMCA as a basketball coach for countless years. Dave was a member of All Souls Congregational Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn, a kindergarten teacher at Vine Street School in Bangor. (4/02)
Steven Brody
Steven Morris Brody ---57, of Topsfield, MA passed away peacefully at home on July 15, after a brief illness. He was a graduate of Oberlin College and Boston University Law School, and a practicing attorney in Boston for over 30 years. After graduating from law school, he was a clerk in the Housing Court for two years. Most recently, he was a founding partner in the law firm of Brody and Jacobs at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Steve was an avid fisherman who went on numerous fishing trips in Central and South America, including several trips to the Amazon Basin in Brazil to fish for peacock bass. A knowledgeable and enthusiastic gardener, his garden of vegetables, perennials and tropical plants was continually expanding and glorious. He was a knowledgeable and philosophical Red Sox fan. Among his other interests were early New England furniture, fine basketry, Chinese export porcelain, and thoroughbred racing. Whether by luck or skill, he rarely ended a day at the track in the red.
A dedicated professional to his colleagues and clients, Steve was a decent and honest man and a wise counselor. To his family and friends, he was unfailingly supportive, generous and loving. Steve is survived by his wife, Jane Durland; a son, Benjamin, of Fort Stewart GA; a daughter, Elizabeth, of New York City; a sister, Leah Murawsky, of Las Vegas, NV; a loving extended family and many friends. A memorial service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Trustees of Reservations, 572 Essex Street, Beverly, MA 01915. (7/21/04)
Bob Gad
As of 1/1/02, I retired from Ropes & Gray, where I have practiced -- mainly commercial trial matters, with an emphasis on real estate and land use -- for thirty years. (10/02)
Class of 1973
Thomas A. Cloutier
Thomas Cloutier of the Old Saybrook firm of Cloutier & Eddy was elected President of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association at its annual meeting held on June 15th, 2001 at the New Haven Lawn Club. (1/02)
Brian M. Guest
Brian joined Parker McCay in August 2003. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Ambulatory Services Board of Trustees for Virtua Health System,Inc. (a network of 4 community hospitals, 2 nursing homes, and related facilities) January 2004. He was reelected Chairman of the Board, The Lester A. Drenk Behavioral Health Center, Inc., January 2004. He is currently serving as Municipal Attorney for Mount Holly Township (NJ) and Delran Township (NJ) as well as attorney for the Pemberton Township (NJ) Municipal Utilities Authority. (2/04)
Steven Hoch
Steven is heading up the new Los Angeles Office of the Santa Barbara law firm of Hatch and Parent. Hoch, a former partner of the Los Angeles law firm of Haight, Brown & Bonesteel, will continue to practice in environmental law and litigation.
Lou Lesesne
Lou was recognized in the Charlotte Observer for his volunteer work with poor and disabled people. He was a co-recipient of the North Carolina Bar Association's Outstanding Pro Bono Services Award for smaller law firms
Jane Friedman Mackall
In May 2001, both my husband and I took early retirement from the Federal Government (me from the NTSB, him from what used to be the ICC) and moved to Prescott, AZ. Retirement didn't last long for me. I am now back working part time for the NTSB doing FOIA work mostly, and am teaching aviation law at nearby Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Teaching is new to me, and I love the challenge. I play bridge, tennis, hike, do lots of crafts, including silversmithing, and travel. My husband, formerly an appellate litigator, has become a local bluegrass and country music star! Arizona is an amazing state, and so totally different from the east coast that it is hard to believe it is the same country. We travel a lot to Santa Monica, where our son is a special effects artist for major motion pictures. Those of you who knew me will remember I was crazy about dogs, and often brought Snoopy to school (where he rode the elevators while I played bridge). Since then, we have had Woodstock (Snoopy's son), Lucy, and now Spike, continuing the Peanuts tradition. I'd love to hear from any of you who remember me and actually read these things. (6/04)
Stuart J. Moskovitz
Stuart is the Mayor of Manalapan, New Jersey. He continues to practice commercial and construction litigation in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. (10/01)
Class of 1974
Warren R. Leiden
Warren currently works as a partner in Berry, Appleman & Leiden, a corporate immigration law firm. He represents Internet and IT companies with immigration matters of their professional and executive employees. Leiden also served on the US Commission on Education Reform.
Ellen Yankiver Suni
Ellen is the Marvin Lewis Rich Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. She was recently appointed Interim Dean at the Law School. She is President of the Midwestern Innocence Project and Legal Director of Kansas City Youth Court. (6/04)
Class of 1975
Richard Driansky
Richard has been married for 23 years to Robin Matlin ('74) and has lived in suburban Philadelphia for the last 22 years. He has three daughters, Leila (6th grade), Alexa (11th grade), and Keira, a sophomore at Yale. He worked at a large pharmaceutical company for many years and then left in 1993 to join a startup biotech company. He founded his own company, Octagen Corporation, in 1997. Richard looks back fondly on his years at the law school and is thankful for the opportunities his education helped to create.
Jay Gayner
I am located in the San Francisco Bay area and the name of my investment bank is Babcock & Brown. (6/05)
Robert Goldman
To My Classmates: I'm so sorry I will be unable to see you at the 25th reunion of the class of 75. I think of many of you and wish you well. Currently I am managing a boutique firm, Goldman & Associates, emphasizing estate planning. We joined with an accounting firm, BPM, to form BPM Goldman Financial Design, a consulting firm here in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. With more than 100 employees in several firms, we offer financial design, investment, insurance, tax, and accounting for businesses and high net worth individuals. I live just over the Golden Gate in Marin County with my two daughters".
N. Nicholas Hendershot
My wife Karen and I live in N.J. with two children (Alexandra (22) and Antony (19)). I completed the George Washington University Law School/Oxford University International Human Rights Program, New College, Oxford University, this past July. I am gradually shifting from insurance defense litigation into human rights work. (6/05)
Howard C. Lem
Hello Class of 1975! After 27 years living in the Washington, D.C. area, my wife, Dorothy and I, moved to the Raleigh/Durham, N.C. area to be near our daughter, Becky, and our granddaughter, Cathy (now age 5). Becky went to Duke University Law School and works for the Attorney General's Office in Raleigh, and it is exciting to see another Lem in the legal profession. My other daughter (also named Cathy) is attends the University of Alabama-Birmingham for a Masters in Public Health.
I am fast approaching the time when I can fully retire from legal practice. Having already retired from U.S. Army Reserves, Judge Advocate Corps, in 1998, it is tempting to consider finally taking a "real" vacation from work and career to focus on spending more quality time with the family.
If you recall, Dean Siskind noted in his opening remarks to our class of 1975, that he hoped each of us could look in the mirror at the end of our legal careers and reflect that we had treated our profession with honor and respect. I am happy to say that from what I read of the Class of 1975, we have all achieved that goal in life. Best to all of you and, as Mr.Spock would say, "Live long and prosper." (9/05)
Stephen Marcus
After working as a prosecutor in New York City, Suffolk County and Los Angeles, I was appointed to the Municipal Court in 1989 where I started the first Drug Court in Southern California. As a result of being one of the first drug courts in the nation, I was a speaker at numerous drug court conferences and worked actively to increase the number of drug courts in the country because I feel they are an effective program for solving the problem of drug addiction. I became a Superior Court Judge in 1999 and have been a felony trial judge for the past four years. I am married to Saundra Lee who is a registered nurse at UCLA Medical Center. Our son William (11) attends the sixth grade. I used to sky-dive but now I focus on playing full-court basketball three times a week. My hobby is photography and I have submitted some prize winning photos at the State Bar Convention photo contest. I hope that all my classmates are successful in their career choices, and I offer an open ended invitation if you should visit Los Angeles. Here's a toast to the many good memories of attending law school at Boston University (excluding the freezing winters). (8/05)
Marc H. Morgenstern
Marc recently taught in a national satellite broadcast from New York on strategies and techniques for old and new economy clients. The focus was on business and legal capital structures for venture capital and institutional investors. Marc is a member of the Executive Committee for the Securities and Exchange Commission's Small Business Capital Formation Conference, where he has been an annual speaker since 1982. (12/01)
Pat Muhlrad
Pat has practiced law on and off for the past 25 years doing some estate planning, negligence, and real estate. Much of her work time has been devoted to managed care contracts, and collections of accounts for her husband's orthopedic practice and other related areas.
Richard Narva
Richard has been a recovering attorney for the past fifteen years, having co-founded Genus Resources, Inc., a consultancy to family controlled enterprises. The firm, which is the oldest and largest multidisciplinary firm consulting to family businesses, family offices, and family foundations, is headquartered in Needham, MA.
Alan Raylesberg
After spending 17 years as a partner (and Chairman of the Litigation Department) at Rosenman & Colin, I moved on to head up the New York Litigation Section at Vinson & Elkin's New York office from 2002-2004. I then left V&E to join Chadbourne & Parke where I began my career as a summer associate while attending BU Law in 1974! I have been married to Caren for 22 years and we have two wonderful children: Lisa (19), a sophomore at Cornell University majoring in economics, and Jason (15), a high school sophomore. I still fondly remember my days at BU Law, and I am still in touch with some of the wonderful friends I made there more than 30 years ago!
Clifford H. Schoenberg
Clifford and Harry Cohen '81 recently joined the firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as a part of Cadwalader's Litigation Department. They are part of one of the world's premier groups of reinsurance lawyers, believed to have the largest reinsurance dispute resolution practice in the United States.
Class of 1976
Charles L. "Chip" Babcock
Chip has been selected as a 2003 Texas Super Lawyer. As reported in the November issue of Texas Monthly magazine, out of more than 20,000 nominees, Babcock was chosen for the 2003 Texas Top 100 Lawyers and Dallas/Ft. Worth Top 100 lists, in addition to being named a Texas Super Lawyer. Only 5% of lawyers in the state were named Super Lawyers. Super Lawyer nominees are selected by their peers, including both opposing and co-counsel. (2/04)
Frank W. Barrie
For the last 12 years, I have served as a Tax Law Judge for the New York State Division of Tax Appeals. My work in the area of tax law has never been dull as some might assume. For example, as I type this brief note, I still feel great unrest concerning the recent terrorist attack on New York's twin towers. In past years, I conducted many tax hearings in 2 World Trade Center on the 85th floor and know the building and environs well. I grieve for 7 colleagues who served as conferees in the related New York agency of Conciliation and Mediation who were trapped in the building on September 11. Before a taxpayer reaches the stage of a formal hearing before me, the usual course is to first have a conference before a conferee who would attempt to resolve the particular tax dispute. We have lost 7 fine individuals who dedicated their professional lives to resolving disputes.
What adds to my unrest is the following very odd coincidence of life. On September 10, the day before this American tragedy, I completed the writing of a determination involving the taxpayer, 7 World Trade Center, L.P., the long term lessee of 7 World Trade Center which on September 11 would collapse to the ground a few hours after the collapse of the two towers. For two full days last year, I conducted a hearing where I took in evidence concerning every purchase made by this taxpayer in a three year period related to its operation of this building. I learned a world of information concerning the operation of a major office building including descriptions of the 40 some odd vendors and suppliers who provided services to 7 World Trade Center. I heard the testimony of a state auditor and of the very professional building manager of 7 World Trade Center. Now I pray that the auditor, whose office was in 2 World Trade Center, and the building manager are safe and sound.
And now I am forced to change verb tense in my determination, and I feel great unrest. I never expected while at B.U. law school in the mid-70's that I would be sitting years later as a New York Tax Law Judge, in the position to learn so much about the operations of a major office building. My expertise in the tax law, as a result of my later studies in B.U.'s LLM in Tax program, opened the door for me to follow this professional course. And the truth of the matter is that my life in the law has been less that of a typical lawyer and more like that of a writer. And I am very grateful to B.U. for making this very special life possible. At times like this, we must all count our blessings. Thank you, Boston University Law School."
Siri F. Boreske
Siri has joined the Boston office of Schnader, Harrison, Goldstein & Manello as a member of the business department. She concentrates in general corporate matters and commercial banking transactions.
John E. Edison
I have been acting as a judge for student competitions at Seattle University Law School. (6/05)
Mark Granger
Mark continues to practice Product Liability, Environmental and Toxic Tort Defense work as a Senior Partner at Morrison, Mahoney & Miller in Boston. Mark appears in Court throughout the Northeastern US as his firm has offices around New England and in New York. Kathy and Mark's three children- Chris, Erin, and Andrew are growing up fast and Erin is now a Second Year Student at Emerson College. With Chris in a condo, Erin at College and Andrew boarding 5 nights at the Perkins School for the Blind, Kathy and Mark are almost "empty nesters." Kathy and Mark are looking forward to seeing old friends at Reunion this Fall. (10/01)
Frederick H. Grein Jr.
Frank was elected to a second three-year term on the National Board of Governors and as a Vice-Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross. He has been involved in various leadership roles in the Red Cross for more than twenty years.
David Ross
David was appointed Acting First Justice of the Orange District Court in Orange, MA on November 12, 2002. He will become the First Justice when sworn in later this year. Ross took the oath of office as a judge of the Chicopee District Court on December 28, 1999. (2/03)
David S. Slaby
I started with Kirkland & Ellis after law school along with four other members of the class of '76. One by one all five of us have moved on to bigger and better things. I moved to SF in 1981 and joined Pettit & Martin and then Fenwick & West. After founding the McDermott, Will & Emery office in Sillicon Valley and serving as the managing partner there for the last five years of my legal career, I retired two and one half years ago with my wife, Margo, to Napa Valley where we now make a Cabernet from our own vineyard. Our first commercial release will be later this year. If you're touring the Napa Valley, please look us up. (6/04)
Class of 1977
Mark E. Berkowitz
Mark was elected to the board of directors of the Brookline Jewish Family & Children's Service, and currently works as a partner in the Boston firm of Arthur Anderson LLP.
Richard Eigenbrode
Since 1993, I have been with the international tax group of Applied Materials, in Santa Clara, CA. Before that, I spent almost 10 years doing international tax consulting with Price Waterhouse in San Francisco and New York (National Office). Following graduation from the Law School, I spent seven years in private practice in Chicago and San Francisco. My wife, Pat, and I have lived in Piedmont for 21 years, and have three children, all currently in college in California, Michigan and Illinois. I am active on the boards of the Piedmont Choirs and the Piedmont Council, Boy Scouts of America." (10/02)
Randy Gioia
After law school, Nancy Madden ('77) and I got married. We hung out a shingle and practiced together for about 12 years when Nancy decided to become a full-time mom to our three boys. We've been married 23 years. I am a solo in Boston. My practice is exclusively criminal defense. This year I received the Edward J. Duggan Private Counsel Award for zealous advocacy and outstanding legal services to the poor." (10/02)
Carol J. Hallowitz
After law school I moved to Los Angeles. I spent one year working for a labor union (hated it) before joining the LA County Public Defenders Office (loved it). After 15 years in the Public Defenders Office I was appointed to the bench in March of 1994. My current assignment is in a Juvenile Delinquency Court. It's hard work but extremely rewarding. If you've ever seen the television program "Judging Amy" then you have an idea of what my days in court are like." (2/03)
Maurice Libner
I am currently in my 7th year of solo practice in coastal and central Maine, where I specialize in handling plaintiff's personal injury and bankruptcy cases. Previously, I was a partner in the law firm of McTeague, Higbee, Libner for 17 years, in Brunswick and Topsham, Maine. My website is Lawyers.com/libner. My daughter Dena is finishing her freshman year as an undergrad at BU. My wife, Sharon Bouchard, and I are celebrating our 22nd anniversary this summer. (5/02)
Peter Mardinly
Well, since graduating, I had practiced law in a suburban law firm, my hometown, for 25 years. This past year a client made me an offer to go "in-house" which was too good to turn down. So, now I have taken and passed the Florida Bar, and am working on shopping center deals in Florida. Hope my classmates have been well, and regrets I cannot attend the reunion. Pressing business down south...." (10/02)
Carolyn McCollum
Since graduation, as a lawyer, I was in private practice with my father and three other lawyers in Cleveland, Ohio for 5 years before moving to DC to become a "government lawyer". I clerked for two Administrative Law judges at the NLRB from 1982-1984. I was the Associate General Counsel for the Epilepsy Foundation of America from 1985-1987. I have been back at the NLRB in the Division of Advice since 1987. All during this time I have also worked as a Flight Attendant, first with TWA for 26 years and now for American Airlines. The job at TWA was my summer job during law school and it is responsible for me being a labor lawyer. I experienced important labor issues during the 1977 decertification of an international union and formation of an independent union, the 1986 flight attendant strike and lockout and the three cases we took to the Supreme Court from that strike and other issues flowing from that strike.
Now I am experiencing the issues that come with being absorbed by a former industry competitor and the change in work rules that come with different contracts. My idea of what it means to be a lawyer has not changed much in the past five years. I always loved that fact that whatever your interests, there is an area of law where you can work. What I have observed is that lawyers are still among the movers and shakers in any area and they are both loved and hated for that over the last five years I have come to believe that lawyers must take the lead in finding ways to resolve disputes in a quicker and less expensive manner than litigation. I took the Harvard Law School Negotiations and Advanced Negotiations workshop courses and am convinced that negotiations and other alternate dispute mechanisms are key. I also have become a firm believer that good lawyering (like good medicine) is preventive."
Carolyn's work travels have taken her to many places including London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Barcelona, Madrid, Geneva, Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Berlin, Shannon, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Ryiad Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (before Desert Storm). She was a member of the Women in Law Delegation of the People to People Citizen Ambassador Program to South and Central America in 1987 which visited Venezuela, Argentina, Costa Rica and heard the Brazilian Congress debate their new constitution. The group also made a trip to China and Hong Kong in 1993 and cruised the Yangtze River before the Three Gorges Project. She also climbed the Great Wall and visited Tienamen Square. She also made trips to Japan and South Africa, and refers to her trip to South Africa as extremely enlightening and inspiring. She encourages classmates to contact her when in the Washington, DC area, she would love to see you and compare notes on the last twenty-five years. (9/02)
David Oliver
After graduation, David started practicing law at a 12-person firm in Kansas City that specialized in civil trial work. Twelve years later he joined a 60-person full-service law firm in Kansas City that grew to 100 and spent six years there. That firm then merged into an international law firm of 750 where David spent four years. He left in 1999 and joined a 6-person firm. He writes: "we are all refugees from large law firms." I was elected chairman of the management committee of the firm in April. So far, so good. In my spare time, I ride my horse, a thoroughbred named Happenstance, and have competed in three-day eventing, what Christopher Reeves used to do -- but now mostly participate in jumper classes. My wife was a full-time journalist but is now a full-time competitor on her horses. We have been on horseback riding trips in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and Scotland. Single malt scotch was the only thing that got me through the ride in Scotland since we were in the saddle an average of 12 hours a day.
For those that remember the work I did with the Boston desegregation case, when I came back to Kansas City, the city had its own desegregation case that was filed in 1977 and is still going on. The case regularly goes to the 8th Circuit on appeals and has been to the Supreme Court twice. I did an amicus brief on one of the appeals on behalf of a business group that is quite concerned about public education in Kansas City. I am also involved with a statewide coalition that is working with the Missouri General Assembly on funding issues for grades K-12.
While at the 60-person firm, I represented the city in a lawsuit against a developer of our train station that backed out of a redevelopment contract and was successful in obtaining a $10 million verdict for the city. My trial work now tends to be business litigation and I am spending a lot of time now defending class action cases. So, I am enjoying what I do. Can't always say that has been the case but I made up my mind when I came here to get back to what was good about practicing law." (2/03)
Joseph Pattison
Under his pen name Eliot Pattison, has released his fourth mystery novel, Beautiful Ghosts (St. Martin's Minotaur), the latest in his acclaimed Inspector Shan series.The first of these, The Skull Mantra, was awarded the prestigious Edgar award for best first novel and was nominated for two major literary prizes in Europe. Pattison, who practices as an international business lawyer in the Law Department of a Philadelphia-based company, has been lauded by human rights groups for the way the series starkly depicts life in contemporary Tibet. (6/04)
Robert Poyourow
After practicing law as a litigator in a midtown Manhattan firm for 4 years, and then in-house counsel for 14 years at GAF Corporation (including 5 years as the General Counsel to the building materials subsidiary), in 1995, Robert shifted careers and became a corporate insurance broker with Aon Risk Services. He now concentrates on providing coverage for Fortune 500 companies and doing financial structure transactions utilizing insurance. Robert writes: "our offices were in Two World Trade Center, so the past 13 months have been difficult. Thanks to the traffic at the Holland Tunnel on 9/11, I was in my car right outside One World Trade when the first plane hit, instead of in my office on the 105th Floor. Timing is truly everything in life. I have been married for 24 years and have two boys, ages 21 and 15, and a dog." (4/03)
Kenneth Shapiro
Kenneth writes that he has been "happily married" for 26 years to his wife, Caron. They have three children, ages 24, 22, and 17. Kenneth specializes in consumer/commercial collections and litigation. He is also licensed as a CPA with a small tax practice. In the evenings, Kenneth is an Accounting Instructor at Arcadia University, Glenside, PA. He goes on to write: "keeping busy - can't make 25th reunion, but would like to keep in touch with everyone else. Should you need any commercial/consumer collection in PA, please give me a call." (4/03)
Class of 1978
Barthalemew Earle
Barthalemew recently founded SnapDoc which offers document automation consulting services. They specialize in implementation, advice, template development, training, and integration for HotDocs document assembly software. (11/01)
Robin E. Keller
After graduation, he clerked for two years in the Southern District of New York for a Bankruptcy Judge and a District Court Judge. Then joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, where he has spent his career. He became a partner in 1988, and have concentrated particularly in the area of large corporate Chapter 11 reorganizations, as well as institutional creditor and creditor committee work. Most recently, Stroock's financial restructuring group has been prominent in the Worldcom and Enron cases, and he has personally handled the corporate reorganizations of Columbia Gas Systems, Anchor Glass, Planet Hollywood and others. He married a commercial litigation partner at Stroock, and have two sons ages 14 and 16. He still is the only registered Republican. (2/04)
Samuel M. Shafner
Burns & Levinson LLP announces that Samuel M. Shafner has been appointed a member of the Steering Committee of the American Friends of the Israel National Museum of Science. The Israel National Museum of Science is dedicated to the development and realization of unique educational programs for youth, and to the promotion of excellence in science and technology. Mr. Shafner is a member of the Corporate Group and the Internet and Technology Group at Burns & Levinson. He has concentrated his practice exclusively in the area of transactional corporate and securities law for more than twenty years. Mr. Shafner has particular expertise in assisting emerging technology companies, both domestic and international, in their capital formation as well as in basic business contract needs.
A major portion of Mr. Shafner's practice deals with corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He frequently counsels clients in IPO's and other public securities offerings, venture capital transactions, private placements, and strategic partnering arrangements. Mr. Shafner is admitted to the Massachusetts and New York bars and is an active member of the Boston chapter of the American Arbitration Association, and has served on its Roster Review Committee." (3/02)
Debra Ann Weiner
In November 1999 Debra Weiner was named Assistant General Counsel in the Administrative Law Division of the Federal Communications Commission's Office of General Counsel in Washington, DC. She had been an attorney in that division for the past three and one-half years. (3/03)
Class of 1979
Sam Abloeser
I live in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania with my wife Marcy and sons Mark (17) and Andrew (14). We are a basketball family. I devote a great deal of time and energy playing and coaching basketball and I devote an enormous amount of time transporting my sons between their school and club teams. I also hope to be participating in the Maccabai Games in Israel in July 2005 as a member of the Masters (over 50! - gasp) United States Squash Team. What little time I have left over is spent with my law firm Kleeman, Abloeser & DiGiovanni in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We have an active civil litigation practice with an emphasis in representing injured railroad workers. Hope to see everyone at the Reunion. Reach me at s.abloeser@verizon.net (8/04)
Michael Eidman
I am a solo practitioner, with offices in Manhattan and Englewood, N.J., concentrating in the litigation and trial of serious personal injury and medical malpractice cases, on behalf of plaintiffs. I am also founder and President of Pipe Dream Productions, a local concert promotion company, in Englewood, N.J.. We have promoted many great musical artists, including Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams, Nils Lofgren, Dan Bern, David Bromberg, Graham Parker and many others. (6/05)
Richard H. Ford
I am currently Managing Partner of the Orlando office (30 attorneys) of Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Ford and a member of the management committee for the entire law firm (120 attorneys). I have been active in civil trial practice with an emphasis on Health Care Litigation. I am Board Certified in Civil Trial Law/Advocacy both in Florida and Nationally. I recently was accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates and named one of the Florida Legal Elite by "Florida Trend Magazine".
Professionally, I have been trying a number of jury trials and generally being involved in an active Civil Trial Practice. Personally, I am married to Mimi Ford and we have two children, Taylor(17) and Fleming (20). Fleming is currently a junior at the University of Chicago and Taylor is a Senior at Trinity Preparatory School. My free time has been taken up with being a Board member at Trinity Prep., golf, fishing, hunting, and other miscellaneous activities. I am currently entered in the New York Marathon for this year. If anyone else is running, please let me know. I am also trying to learn to surf. This has turned out to be a greater challenge then I thought. (8/04)
Andrea (Kanter) Jacobs
In 2000, I joined the Cleveland Clinic, where I am the Administrator of the Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center. I didn't chart this course to be a hospital administrator very carefully, but it has worked out quite well. I married Bill Jacobs (Thompson Hine) in August 2002, and now have two step-daughters as well (Samantha and Aubrey). Bill and I live on Lake Erie, and are adjusting to being empty-nesters. (6/05)
Lisa Renee Pomerantz
In 2003, as a result of a corporate relocation decision, my position at NEC, which I had held for a third of my life, was eliminated. Somewhat surprisingly, I found myself thriving as an entrepreneur. I have a very close affiliation with a company called LRSolutions for which I serve as a network expert and director of online compliance development. I also have a private practice principally helping small businesses and non-profits structure and implement their commercial initiatives, and I am looking to become active as an arbitrator and mediator. (6/05)
Desmond Whitney (nee Stern)
Those who knew me at BU probably knew that I would not last long in the legal profession." After 18 months of working, Whitney fled the cloisters of law and spent the next 6 years doing what he "had always dreamed of when staring out the windows of the law library."
Between 1982 and 1988, Desmond spent two winters as a "ski bum" in Steamboat, Colorado (cleaning condos and working as a hotel porter), two summers as a white-water rafting guide on the Colorado River, 6 months traveling by motorcycle to Alaska and back with fellow BU Law graduate Dan Lewis, 8 months traveling from Colombia to Chile, 9 months traveling from India to Indonesia, 4 months in New Zealand, and 8 months in Europe (including some memorable hiking in the Alps with classmate Eric Kraus).
Desmond met his partner, Anne, on a ski gondola in 1982, married (he took her name) in 1989, and now live in Minneapolis with their 4-year-old daughter Kate (born in China) and 2-year-old son Ben (born in Korea). "Anne works and I am a stay-at-home dad." (10/01)