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