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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

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      Education

      • Fordham University School of Law – J.D. 1969
      • The City College of New York – B.A. 1961
        • Phi Beta Kappa