Biography
Professional Background
1983 — 2008
Surrogate, New York County
132 reported opinions, many addressing novel issues (e.g., rights of children born through in vitro fertilization; rights of non-marital fathers in adoption cases; designed process of determining death of persons missing in aftermath of 2001 attack on World Trade Center; reformation of trusts involving Subchapter S corporations and GRITs; seminal case reforming will to maximize tax benefits for estate
1980 — Present
Adjunct Professor, Fordham University School of Law (Estate Administration)
1999 — Present
Chair, Surrogate's Court Advisory Committee of the Office of Court Administration
1976 — 1982
Monthly Columnist, "Wills, Estates and Surrogate's Practice," New York Law Journal
1969 — 1982
Law Assistant and Referee, Surrogate's Court (King's County)
Community and Public Service
1974 — Present
Lecturer in the following forums:
- Judges’s Association of the State of Georgia (keynote speaker on courts as critical second responders to emergencies such as September 11th attack on World Trade Center)
- Japanese Adult Guardianship Association (in Tokyo) (New York guardianships)
- Trust Companies Association of Japan (in Tokyo) (private trusts and litigation)
- United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies
- Yeshiva University
- Hadassah
- National Association of State Legislators
- Various Bar Associations
- Chair, Estate Planning Conference of the Archdiocese of New York
- Annual Estate Planning Conference of Brooklyn
- The Gay-Straight Alliance of the New York State Courts
- Designed and chaired 20-year program, New York County Lawyers' Association 10-week course on Surrogate's Practice
- Estate planning programs of other civic and charitable organizations
- New York State Bankers’ Association (Policy Issues and Common Trusts)
2003 — 2004
Member, Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections
1987 — Present
Director, Fordham Law School Alumni Association
1983 — Present
Executive Committee, Surrogate’s Association of the State of New York
1987 — 1992
Trustee, St. Francis College
1986 — 1996
Member, Women’s Forum, Inc.
1986 — 1991
Member, New York Task Force on Permanency Planning for Children
1978 — 1984
Board of Directors, National Association for the furtherance of Jewish Education
1977 — 1979
President, City College Alumni Association