50yr Journal 2021 FINAL

Essex County Bar Association Annual Fifty Year Celebration 2021 Annual Celebration Honoring our Fifty Year Members & Presentation of the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award November 9, 2021

105 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 401 Roseland, NJ 07068-1640 Tel 973.403.9200 / Fax 973.226.0031 www.starrgern.com

Program Welcome Eileen O’Connor ECBA President Opening Remarks Hon. Sheila A. Venable, A.J.S.C. Essex Vicinage Presentations to the Class of 1971 Eileen O’Connor Presentation of the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award to Benjamin M. Del Vento, Sr., Esq. Benjamin M. Del Vento P.A. Remarks by Dennis Drasco, Esq. Lum, Drasco & Positan LLC & Benjamin M. Del Vento, Sr. Closing Remarks

Past Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients SAMUEL S. SAIBER LUCAS PHILLIPS HONORABLE MARIE L. GARIBALDI HONORABLE DANIEL J. O’HERN HONORABLE JOHN J. GIBBONS ADRIAN “BUD” FOLEY JOHN P. MCGEE THOMAS L. MORRISSEY HONORABLE ALVIN WEISS HONORABLE NICHOLAS H. POLITAN HONORABLE HERMAN D. MICHELS HONORABLE WILLIAM G. BASSLER JOSEPH P. LASALA HONORABLE JAMES R. ZAZZALI WILLIAM B. MCGUIRE DAVID SAMSON BERNARD A. KUTTNER MARY JEAN GALLAGHER GOVERNOR BRENDAN T. BYRNE HONORABLE KATHARINE S. HAYDEN LAURENCE B. ORLOFF HONORABLE MICHAEL A. PETROLLE HONORABLE EDWIN H. STERN KENNETH F. KUNZMAN RAYMOND M. BROWN

FIFTY YEAR MEMBERS 2021 Ronald L. Davison Amos Gern Melvin A. Jacobs Alan R. Lebowitz John N. Malyska Paul A. Massaro Hon. Donald L. O’Connor, J.M.C. Bruce M. Pitman Hon. Frank Pomaco, J.M.C. Ronald J. Riccio Richard H. Singer Hon. Harry L. Starrett, J.M.C. (Ret.) Benjamin M. Del Vento, Sr. 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

RONALD L. DAVISON Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin P.C. Ronald L. Davison is a proud graduate of Rutgers University and Rutgers Law School, where he was Articles Editor of the Rutgers Law Review. He is a liti- gation attorney representing clients in complex business and estate litigation matters both on the trial and appellate levels in State and Federal courts. He has been named as a Best Lawyer in the practice areas of commercial litigation and trusts and estates litigation by Best Lawyers in America, as a Super Lawyer by New Jersey Monthly Magazine in the area of Business Litigation and received the highest peer review rating (“AV Preeminent”) by Martindale- Hubbell. Ron has served as a court-appointed estate administrator, receiver, guardianship attor- ney and attorney-trustee. He has lectured on various subjects in continuing legal education pro- grams on such topics as challenges to wills, trusts and gifts and business valuations in business divorce cases. Ron has served for many years as a volunteer mediator for the General Equity and Probate Parts of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court. Garnering appointments by the New Jersey Supreme Court, he served on both the District Ethics Committee and the District Fee Arbitration Committee, leading both as chairperson over the years. The highlights to Ron’s career are numerous. He successfully defended a leading provider of telecommunications services against multi-million dollar damage claims, defended a former presi- dent of a Japanese-owned golf course conglomerate against a multi-million dollar claim for breach of fiduciary duty and mismanagement, prosecuted the violation of trade secrets and restrictive covenant claims against a competitor and a former vice president of a multi-million dollar company's research and development department, and defended a physician-defendant against a multi-party suit by a major health insurance provider. He also prosecuted and defended numerous contested will and trust cases, including the defense of an executor and co-trustee of an 80+ mil- lion dollar estate. Ron has served as court-appointed attorney-trustee for disbarred attorneys’ practices and as a court-appointed administrator of a multi-million dollar estate. Ron shares his wealth of experience as a frequent lecturer on estate litigation for the Essex Coun- ty Bar Foundation and other legal and non-legal organizations. He has served as an Assistant Dean and Lecturer at his alma mater, Rutgers Law School. Ron selflessly dedicates himself to his community as well, serving for 14 years as a Member and President of the West Essex Regional School District Board of Education. Ron has been married for nearly 55 years to the love of his life, Joanne. They have two children, Todd, an investment banker, and Danielle, an ICU physician. They also have two wonderful in-law children, Addie and K. He and Joanne have six grandchildren ranging in age from two to eight- een. They spend as much time as possible with them. Ron is an avid reader and golfer (for 67 years) and is still hoping to someday actually become good at it!

AMOS GERN Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin P.C. Amos Gern is a 1967 Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Rutgers University where he was a Henry Rutgers Scholar and received a BA, magna cum laude, in Political Science. He graduated in 1970 from New York University School of Law. He has been a member of the New Jersey and New York Bars since 1971 and has been a Certified Civil Trial Attorney since 1985 and a Civil Trial Advocate through the Nation- al Board of Trial Advocacy since 1989. He has been named as a New Jersey Super Lawyer each year since 2005, and in Best Lawyers in America (New York Area) since 2012, in the spe- cialties of plaintiff’s medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. Immediately following admission, Amos served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey for three years. Early in his career, he also served as the Municipal Prose- cutor and Zoning Board Attorney for the Township of Livingston, where he resides. At present, Amos is a shareholder and managing partner with Starr Gern Davison & Rubin, a Roseland law firm with a wide range of specialties. His practice concentrates in personal injury litigation, includ- ing automobile negligence, medical malpractice, professional liability, product liability, construc- tion and industrial accidents, work-related injuries and other complex civil litigation. From 2007 to 2008, Amos was President of ATLA-NJ, which was the forerunner of the New Jer- sey Association for Justice (NJAJ). He has held many leadership positions with NJAJ over the years, and continues to serve on its Board of Governors. He is NJAJ’s representative to the New Jersey Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee where he has served for the last twelve years. In that capacity, he has been instrumental in addressing numerous reforms to our Civil Practice rules. This has included addressing reforms designed to allow medical malpractice cases to be reached for trial more readily, and limiting the abuse of the designated trial counsel rule. Amos and his firm have been actively involved in numerous amicus appearances before the N.J. Supreme Court, on behalf of the NJAJ and in support of important civil practice reform. The issues which have been addressed in these cases have included interpretation of remittitur and additur procedures, issues addressing bad faith pleadings, and counsel fees in uninsured/ underinsured bodily injury claims. Amos was awarded the Essex County Bar Association Civil Attorney Achievement Award in May 2016. In February 2020, he was awarded the New Jersey Association for Justice Award for Trial Attorney Excellence (Gerald B. O’Connor Award). Amos has been a frequent lecturer for NJAJ at the Boardwalk and Meadowlands Seminars, as well as for the New Jersey Institute for Contin- uing Legal Education (ICLE) and for the NJSBA. Amos is an active participant in NJAJ’s Person- al Injury ListServe, and a regular contributor to its legal discussions.

MELVIN A. JACOBS Attorney at Law By Melvin Jacobs Born and raised in Newark, I graduated from the deservedly lauded Weequahic High School. Thereafter, I graduated from Rutgers University in 1968, with a B.A., majoring in History. Finally, I obtained a J.D. degree from New York University School of Law in 1971. The rest, as they say, is history as is further recounted below. I would also add that my es- teemed father, P. Phineas Jacobs, Esq, was admitted to the Bar in 1931—90 years ago this year— and we practiced in Newark, a cherished partnership, from the time of my admission in 1971, until his untimely demise in 1977. Preserving my father's name on office stationery, I continued for the ensu- ing 44 years, as a solo practitioner in Newark, until last month, when I moved to small office space in West Orange. However, I largely work from home in these post-pandemic times. Much like my father - my first mentor and role-model who taught me so much in our few short professional years together about true dedication to the clients and to the law - I continued to handle a variety of legal matters. My practice has ranged from personal injury, workers' compensa- tion to real estate, family law, domestic violence matters for victims, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, landlord- tenant, estates, and municipal court. For many years I served, with pride, as a panelist on the Es- sex County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service. At this time, my practice - largely of my own volition - is not as practice-area diverse or voluminous. However, my focus and my goal remains the same: to listen carefully and attentively so that I can provide quality legal service to every single cli- ent, with the requisite passion and undiminished vigor, required of a zealous advocate. My passion for service, whether to my clients or the community, was instilled in me, at a young age. My mother was an active volunteer and my parents promoted strong Jewish values in the home and in their professional lives. I began traveling at a young age, which inspired a life long love of his- tory, culture and extensive travel. Believing strongly that connecting and communicating with people from other cultures is special and meaningful, I studied to become reasonably conversant in four lan- guages. My wife Linda and I lived in New York City prior to moving to Livingston, where we raised our two dear daughters, Phyllis and Mariel. In addition to my service to the Bar, I have much enjoyed serving my community. Among my volun- teer activities, I have served as the Chair of the UJF MetroWest Lawyers’ Chair, as well as a member of the board of trustees of the Metropolitan State of Israel Bonds organization. I also cherish the time I have spent serving my synagogue, Temple Beth Shalom, in Livingston. During my 35 years of membership, I have long served on the Temple’s Board of Trustees and as Vice Presi- dent, President, and am an active Past President, to this day. I find balance and great reward in collecting art and rare books, traveling, attending the theatre and in singing. My greatest joy comes though from sharing time and traditions with my wife, daughters, son in law and our newest addition, my four-month old granddaughter, Shayna and my grand-dog, Milo.

ALAN R. LEBOWITZ Law Offices of Alan R. Lebowitz, LLC Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1946, Alan Lebowitz attended the Newark Public School System and graduated Weequahic High School in June, 1963. At Albright College in Pennsylvania, he majored in Political Science obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in May, 1967. Alan then attended The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, obtaining his Juris Doctor- ate with Honors in May, 1970. Declining a lucrative legal position in Hawaii, Alan returned to Es- sex County, New Jersey with his wife, Sylvia, passed the Bar exam, and shortly thereafter com- menced his legal career at the firm Cohen and Meshulam, PA in Montclair where he practiced for eight years. In 1979, Alan and Jack Maloof briefly shared office space in Verona before forming Maloof Lebowitz, PA. Outgrowing that office, they purchased a building in Florham Park, where they remained for thirteen years. Again outgrowing their space, the firm purchased a thirty-thousand square foot building in Chatham to house their burgeoning New Jersey / New York practice. The successor firm, Lebowitz, Oleske, Connahan & Kassar, LLC, returned to Florham Park in 2014. In 2018, Alan returned to Essex County as Of Counsel to Morgan Melhuish Abrutyn, LLP until the start of the pandemic when he decided to work remotely and formed the Law Offices of Alan R. Lebowitz, LLC. From 1979 to the present, each of these law firms have been recognized as highly regarded in- surance defense firms representing insurance companies, their insureds, third-party administra- tors, and self-insured companies, in myriad areas including first and third-party claims of automo- bile negligence, SIU (fraud/misrepresentation), UM/UIM, premises liability, dram shop/social host, construction defect, indemnification and coverage. In a career that has successfully spanned five decades, Alan’s litigation experience has been diverse including specialization in all of the above claims involving serious bodily injury, traumatic brain injury, and wrongful death. An experienced litigator, Alan has litigated cases in both the State and Federal Courts throughout New Jersey and New York and argued appeals before the New Jersey Appellate Division and New Jersey Su- preme Court. Among all of his personal and professional accomplishments and accolades, Alan is most proud of his family—his wife, Sylvia; his daughters, Randy and Lauren; their husbands, Jason and Lee; and his five grandsons. His crowning accomplishment though is being affectionately known as “The Accident Man” by his beloved family, a moniker given to him in a song written and per- formed by his actress daughter at a recent birthday celebration.

JOHN N. MALYSKA Meyner and Landis LLP By John Malyska I was born and raised in Newark. I am a first-generation American, the son of an Italian born mother and a father of Ukrainian ancestry. My father fought in World War II, receiving a Purple Heart, and went to college at night on the GI Bill, ultimately becoming a corporate auditor for the IRS. My mother, with only a high school education, worked her entire married life and retired as a senior vice president in the banking industry. I am grateful they understood the value of education and instilled in me the notion that meaningful work was not to be avoided but embraced. I graduated Seton Hall University in 1968 with degrees in finance and economics. Fellow honoree Ron Riccio also graduated that year, and both Ron and I were active in many Seton Hall activities. Congratulations Ron on your own success- ful career! I attended Georgetown University Law Center where I served as an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. During the summer of 1970 I interned at what was then Meyner and Wiley and also married Mary Louise Ercolano. We returned to Washington, D.C., where I completed law school and MaryLou worked as a teacher. We returned to New Jersey for my clerkship with John Gibbons, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. We settled in Glen Ridge where we lived for our entire 51 years of marriage. For those of you who knew John Gibbons, you appreciate the honor of having been chosen as his clerk. It was a special moment when he moved my admission to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. After the Third Circuit, I returned to Meyner and Wiley, turning down more lucrative offers. Early in my career, I voluntarily offered counsel on the selective service/draft and taught in Seton Hall’s MBA program. I taught until the birth of the first of our three daughters, Nicole, Anne and Mary Flora. My wife and I are very proud of them, not only for their moral character and their individual career suc- cesses but also for the six wonderful grandchildren they are raising. During this time, my wife had her own successful career in education, completing her PhD at Fordham, Lincoln Center and working as a school superintendent in various New Jersey school districts. I have spent the entirety of my 50 years of practice with the same firm, now Meyner and Landis. The firm’s lawyers and support staff are my friends and more than just a professional family. Life at the firm was never dull and I hope you will read my full biography here. I have been fortunate to have had a full career as a private attorney, a full career in the public sector as a municipal attorney and what is becoming a full career as a general counsel for a large multi-state corporation. It sometimes surprises me that I hold these three positions at the same time. It is a career not many have had. And I am thankful for it. Lastly, I am gratified by the work I do with The Loyola Foundation, based in Washington D.C. where I have served in several roles since 1978. Finally, my wife and I were long standing members at the Rock Spring Club in West Orange where we shared many Rock Spring moments with honoree Ben Del Vento and his wife Marie. Ben did astounding fund-raising work for New Jersey Caddie Scholarships. Ben, many congratulations my friend!

PAUL A. MASSARO Attorney at Law By Paul Massaro I am honored to be here. Moreover, I did not have to run a marathon, win an election or climb a mountain to get here, I just had to spend 50 years doing what I feel I was meant to do—practicing this difficult craft of lawyering that often throws you unexpected and difficult twists. Yet, looking back, it also offers a surprising amount of intellectual satisfaction, the opportunity to learn more about the law from experienced colleagues, and, most importantly, the ability to assist persons in all walks of life in resolving diffi- cult legal problems. After earning my J.D. from New York Law I served in the U.S. Marine Corps. I was on active du- ty for three years and remained in the reserves until 1983, attaining the rank of major. I also hold a M.A. degree from New York University. In 1974, I was appointed as an Assistant Prose- cutor in Union County. I had some excellent experiences there, including one as a co- prosecutor with the then Acting Prosecutor, Michael Evans, in a three-month prosecution of a massive oil theft from the Exxon Refinery. In 1978, I began working at the Bureau of Construction Code Enforcement in the Department of Community Affairs. The Bureau needed to start a Compliance Section, a challenge I met enthu- siastically. With seven investigators, a small staff and myself, the Section brought regulatory actions against municipal and county code-enforcement officials and other regulated entities. In 1982, I decided to open my own practice. Just two years in, I began representing the New Jersey Building Officials Association. For the next 23 years I enjoyed engaging in prerogative writs litigation, travelling the state of New Jersey and learning a great deal about municipal gov- ernance. During this time, I continued in private practice and enjoyed actively participating in the Essex County Bar Association, including as Editor of the Chronicle publication for several years. I also enjoyed serving the profession as a Fee Arbitrator in both Essex and Passaic Counties, serving as Chair of the Fee Arbitration Committee in Essex. I also served as an arbitrator and mediator in various other forums, including for the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Better Business Bureau. I served as a member of the Su- preme Court Arbitration Advisory Committee and its Committee on Complementary Dispute Res- olution. I am also an agricultural mediator and a foreclosure mediator. The profession has been a fulfilling experience. I still consider it an honor to be a “practicing” member of the bar, still learning and experiencing more of this profession. I maintain a private practice as does my wife Deborah, also an attorney, and plan to continue providing legal counsel. When we are not practicing law, we enjoy garden- ing and the rural life that Sussex County offers. I also enjoy watercolor painting and drawing with pen and ink and I have won several awards for my work.

HONORABLE DONALD L. O’CONNOR, J.M.C. The Honorable Donald O’Connor, J.M.C. is a proud graduate of St. Bene- dict’s High School in Newark, Holy Cross College and Seton Hall University School of Law. He clerked in Essex County for the Honorable James Owens, J.S.C. Judge O’Connor has spent the majority of his legal career in small suburban firms in Essex County, most recently with Brandley, Kleppe, O’Connor & Boutillier, LLP. He is currently Of Counsel to the Rohde Law Group located in Caldwell, New Jersey. Fulfilling the legal needs of many residents of this county, the Judge’s practice is wide and varied, including land use, matri- monial, estate planning and real estate transaction cases. In recognition of his devoted service to the people of the community by meeting their legal needs, he was awarded the Essex County Bar Association’s General Practice Attorney Award in 2004. By his service on a variety of not for profit boards and with community organizations, the Judge gives selflessly to his neighbors and the community. Judge O’Connor has served as a Trustee of the Frank Thompson Foundation, the West Essex Chamber of Commerce and the Mount St. Dominic Academy, among others. In addition to the areas previously noted, Judge O’Connor has shared his talents and experi- ence in the municipal courts of Essex County. For over 20 years he served as the Municipal Prosecutor in West Caldwell, New Jersey. In 2001, he was appointed as a Judge of the Munici- pal Court, sitting in West Caldwell for six years. After serving in that role for five years, he was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge in Caldwell where he sat for six years. In 2003, he was appointed as a Judge of the combined Municipal Courts of North Caldwell and Essex Fells, where he still presides. The Judge also serves with distinction as the Newark Municipal Court Conflict Judge and presides over Civil Commitment Hearings in five mental health hospitals. Judge O’Connor is held in high regard by his colleagues on the Municipal Bench and by local municipal officials, as evidenced by his regular invitation to sit as a visiting judge. He has sat in each of the 22 municipalities in Essex County. Judge O’Connor credits his family for their support of his legal and judicial careers over these last fifty years. His wife, Eileen O’Connor, is a former Assistant Essex County Prosecutor and the current President of the Essex County Bar Association. The Judge’s family bring him much pride and enjoyment. His son Matthew and daughter-in-law Elizabeth have blessed the Judge and Eileen with three beautiful and spirited grandchildren: Mollie, Brendan and Ben. The Judge finds great joy and balance to his busy legal career by spending time with Eileen on the golf course and with their grandchildren.

BRUCE M. PITMAN Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin P.C. Bruce M. Pitman concentrates his practice exclusively in matrimonial and family law in which he regularly represents clients in cases focusing on divorce, custody, alimony, child support, equitable distribution and all other issues involving family law and domestic relations. He has been engaged in many complex divorce and custody cases. He was selected as a Super Lawyer in 2011. Bruce graduated from Rutgers University in 1967 and received his Juris Doctorate from New York Law School in 1971. He was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1971, to the New York State Bar in 1977, and to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in 1977. Bruce began his career as a law clerk to both the Honorable John L. Ard and the Hon. William Fillmore Wood before joining the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. After his service as a public defender, Bruce went into private practice spending forty-two years zealously advocating for families during what is often the most trying of circumstances. In 2016, he joined his current firm, Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin, P.C., Of Counsel. He represents clients before the Superior Court of New Jersey and the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. He is a long-term member of the American Inns of Court, an organization dedicat- ed to the training and education of young lawyers. He is Past-President of the Barry I. Croland Family Law Inn of Court and presently serves on its Board of Trustees. He has been appointed by the Superior Court as a law guardian for children of divorce and has served on Early Settle- ment Panels in Essex, Morris and Union Counties for more than twenty years. Bruce lectures extensively at continuing legal education seminars for the Essex County and New Jersey State Bar Associations, among others. He has been appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Rule 1:40 Family Law Mediator. Bruce has tried matters in various other jurisdictions of the United States including New York and Wisconsin. Bruce has represented clients in a number of cases before the Appellate Division of the Superi- or Court of New Jersey which have resulted in published opinions including Miller v. Estate of Kahn, 140 N.J. Super 177 (App. Div. 1976); State of New Jersey v. Hass, 218 N.J. Super 133 (App. Div. 1987); Rzepiennik v. U.S. Home Corp. (App. Div. 1987); Around The World Merchan- disers v. Rayovac, 245 N.J. Super. 337 (Law Div. 1990); First Fidelity Bank v. Southeastern In- surance Group, 253 N.J. Super. 439 (Law Div. 1991); Bursztyn v. Burszytn, 379 N.J. Super. 385 (App. Div. 2005). Bruce is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, and the Union County Bar Association. He is a former Township of Springfield Planning Board Member and for many years served as the Planning Board Attorney.

HONORABLE FRANK POMACO J.M.C. Gaccione Pomaco P.C. Frank Pomaco graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, magna cum laude, in 1968 and in the top 10% of his class from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1971. Judge Pomaco was a Comments Editor for the Seton Hall Law Review. He was admitted to New Jersey Bar 1971 and to the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. Judge Pomaco is a member of the Seton Hall Law School Alumni Associ- ation Council. Judge Pomaco began his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Samuel J. Larner, A.J.S.C., New Jersey Superior Court, Law Division, Hudson County. In 1972, he and his current partner and long-time friend, Robert Gaccione, established the law firm that still carries his name today. Judge Pomaco’s experience on all sides of the law has made him a well-rounded general practice attorney. His practice areas law include education, real estate, municipal, trusts and estate. He enjoys a stellar reputation among his peers on both sides. As the firm he started approaches its own 50th anniversary, Judge Pomaco continues as a senior partner, specializing in education law. These cases are highly personal and often emotional. His clients find him to be an honest, compassionate and zealous advocate who represents them and their interests with the utmost professionalism. Additionally, Judge Pomaco is presently Chief Counsel to the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education and counsel to Fairfield Public Library Board. He previously served as Chief Counsel to the Belleville Board of Education, the Nutley Board of Education, the Bloomfield Board of Edu- cation and the North Caldwell Board of Education. His expertise in this area continues to make him a sought after expert and advocate. In addition to his dedication to education in these roles, Judge Pomaco has served his communities as Interim Township Attorney to the Township of Fairfield and as the Municipal Prosecutor to the Township of Fairfield. The pursuit of justice and fairness has been a hallmark of Judge Pomaco’s legal career. In 1997, he began his 24 year judicial career when he was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge in the Township of Fairfield. He was subsequently appointed as an Acting Municipal Court Judge in multiple Essex communities including West Caldwell and Cedar Grove. He also served as a Specially Assigned DUI Judge in the Livingston Municipal Court. A loving husband, father and grandfather, Judge Pomaco is married to his high school sweet- heart Olga and is the proud parent of a son, James, and two daughters, Melissa and Jessica. Although he continues to find joy in the law, his eight grandchildren are the lights of his life. He cherishes the many hours he spends with his family, especially at his house on a lagoon at the Jersey Shore.

RONALD J. RICCIO McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP Ronald J. Riccio received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Seton Hall University in 1968 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1971, where he was a member of the school’s first public Law Review. Follow- ing a judicial clerkship with The Honorable Lawrence A. Whipple, United States District Court Judge, he began a sixteen year career in private practice as a litigator, during which time he successfully rep- resented plaintiffs and defendants in a number of major trial and appellate matters. He returned to his alma mater in 1988 to serve as Dean of Seton Hall University School of Law. He successfully served in that role for eleven years, during which time he taught Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law, fund- ed and orchestrated the School’s new building in Newark, restructured existing programs and launched innovative new ones with remarkable success. He has been voted Professor of the Year five times by the student body and is a past recipient of the Andrea Catania Fellowship for Excellence In Teaching. Dean Emeritus Riccio is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York as well as before the Unit- ed States Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, and Sixth Circuits and before the Supreme Court of the United States. Among other notable cases, he successfully represented the New Jersey Thor- oughbred Horsemen's Association in the Supreme Court of the United States in their efforts to legalize sports betting at Monmouth Park Racetrack. New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Inc., Petitioner v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al. (No. 16-476 and 16-477) (May 14, 2018). From time to time Dean Emeritus Riccio has been appointed by various courts to assist in resolving a diversity of complex matters. Notable appointments include his services as a Settlement Master of a major land claim dispute in Central New York State initiated by the Oneida Indian Nation; Settlement Mediator of a teachers strike where hundreds of teachers were jailed; and Site Administrator oversee- ing the remediation and restoration of environmentally contaminated sites in Hudson County. Dean Emeritus Riccio is a founding member of the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism, a former member of the New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force, and immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Monmouth Medical Center. He is a Lifetime Fellow of the Ameri- can Bar Foundation. As a highly regarded attorney held to be a quintessential professional, he has received numerous awards. Among these are the New Jersey State Bar Foundation Medal of Honor, Ann Klein Advocate Award for the Disabled, B’nai Brith Humanitarian Award of Excellence, Saint Thomas More Medal of Honor, ACLU of New Jersey Roger N. Baldwin Civil Liberties Award, and the Columbian Foundation’s Achievement and Humanitarian Award. He has also been listed in Super Lawyers (2005-2020), was honored as Seton Hall Law's 2016 Distinguished Graduate, received the 2016 ECBA’s Samuel S. Saiber Professional Achievement Award, and was chosen by the New Jersey Law Journal as the 2016 Attorney of the Year. Dean Emeritus Riccio’s illustrious career is, however, best defined by his unwavering dedication to the next generation of attorneys as Dean, teacher, and mentor.

RICHARD H. SINGER, Jr. Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C. Over the past fifty years, Richard Singer has seen and done it all in the field of family law. His clients enjoy dedicated attention, creativity, innova- tive legal thought, and an unwavering commitment to their case and their needs. A pragmatic problem solver, Richard believes in amicably resolving cases whenever possible, but is prepared to litigate on his client’s behalf when necessary. He handles all aspects of family law, including as a leading authority on the preparation and enforceability of prenuptial agreements. Richard earned his J.D. from Washington College of Law and his B.S. from American University, in Washington D.C. He is admitted to the Bars of the Third Circuit, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; the U.S. Supreme Court; United States Court of Military Appeals; United States Tax Court and New Jersey. Richard has represented a broad spectrum of individuals and has been involved in many complex financial disputes in the divorce context, including matters involving business owners, high-ranking executives of public and privately held companies, professional athletes and other celebrities. He has successfully handled high net worth divorces in family courts throughout New Jersey and has appeared before the Appellate Division and New Jersey Supreme Court. Richard’s influence and excellence extends beyond the courtroom. He is a Past President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), New Jersey Chapter, an organization with which he also served as a Board Member. Richard was on the Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), Family Law Section from 1980 through 1988 and served as Chair of the Equitable Division Sub-Committee of the NJSBA. He has been trained by the AAML as a matrimonial mediator and matrimonial arbitrator. Richard has lectured frequently for the NJSBA’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and has lectured on family law is- sues for the American Bar Association, the NJSBA, the New York State Bar Association, the Pennsylvania State Bar Association and other legal organizations around the region. Richard is held in high regard by his colleagues and has been recognized as a leader in the field of family law as a “Superlawyer” from 2005 through 2015. He was named by NJ Monthly Maga- zine as one of the top 100 “Superlawyers” in the State of New Jersey in 2005 and 2012. In addition to his prolific speaking engagements and legal education seminars, Richard is the author of “Drafting Premarital Agreements”, a publication now in its 20th edition. This best-selling publication is widely viewed as the pre-eminent source for all issues regarding premarital agree- ment and the law regarding said agreements.

HONORABLE HARRY L. STARRETT J.M.C. (RET) Law Office of Harry L. Starrett Harry L. Starrett was born in Newark and grew up in Bradley Beach, one block from the ocean. He attended Bradley Beach Grammar School and As- bury Park High School where he excelled as an athlete. As a teenager and during college, Judge Starrett was a lifeguard. He and his best friend, retired Superior Court Judge Paul Chalet, were champion rowers and participated in the North Jersey Shore Lifeguard Tournaments. In 1966, they rowed in a national tournament in Montauk, Long Island which was broadcast on Wide World of Sports. On weekends when he was not playing sports or on the beach he worked in his father’s gas station and car wash. Judge Starrett attended the University of Delaware on a scholarship and played football under the legendary Tubby Raymond. In his senior year, he was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference first team. He graduated with academic honors in 1967. Upon graduation, the Judge married fellow UDel student, Sandy. Judge Starrett obtained his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1971 and in 1980, a masters in tax law from New York University. In 1971, he and Sandy moved to West Or- ange, New Jersey where he then began his legal career. Judge Starrett has maintained his gen- eral practice, civil litigation, family law and corporate law practice in West Orange for fifty years. He is highly regarded in the community and among his peers. The Starretts became active in the community as cofounders of the Neighborhood Coalition, an environmental watchdog organiza- tion. Sandy also served on several boards and organizations, including the Township Planning and Zoning Boards and the League of Women Voters. In 1992, Judge Starrett was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge in the Township of West Or- ange. He was then appointed Chief Judge in 2005. Judge Starrett served the court diligently and with integrity for twenty-three years. Attorneys and peers found him to be “a careful, compassion- ate and deliberate jurist whose sound judgment reflected his integrity and intelligence.” He retired with the honor of being the longest serving municipal judge in the history of West Orange. Judge Starrett also served as President of the Essex County Municipal Court Judges Association from 2006 to 2008. Judge Starrett and Sandy recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary, a union that brought them two daughters and four grandchildren. After their children and grandchildren, Judge Starrett’s and Sandy’s shared passion is sailing. Their first boat was a 20’ sloop. They later grad- uated to a 40’ Catalina 400. For over forty years, they have cruised extensively on their Wind- swept from as far south as Tangier Island in the lower Chesapeake to as far north as Nantucket and many places in between.

2020 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BENJAMIN M. DEL VENTO, SR., ESQ. LAW OFFICE OF BENJAMIN M. DEL VENTO “No one is more beloved and respected in the Essex Bar than Ben. He has always been the absolute epitome of professionalism and civility in his practice and bar activities. He deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award not only for his career in the practice but for his philanthropy.” Dennis Drasco, Esq. In 1921, Canio Del Vento emigrated from Italy to Orange, New Jersey. With only 25 cents and eight chestnuts, a 16 year old Canio travelled for eight days by ship, filled with hope for a bright future and dreams of a career as an opera singer. Canio found work as a barber and, after 14 years, returned to Milan to marry Rachel. They returned to Orange and to- gether raised a family. Benjamin Del Vento, Sr. is the second of five children; four sons and a daughter. Canio worked for 60 years, being affectionately known as the “Singing Barber of Essex County”. Education and the arts were foremost in the Del Vento home. Regular Sunday outings to New York City to enjoy performances at Carnegie Hall and the theatre instilled in the Del Vento children a life-long appreciation of music and the arts. Ben was an accomplished violinist, playing second chair in the New Jersey Youth Orchestra. All of the Del Vento children embraced their parents’ values, achieving person- al and professional success. In addition to Ben becoming an accomplished and highly regarded attorney, his siblings include two teachers with Master’s degrees, a doctor and another lawyer. Ben and his siblings credit their parents for providing them incredible opportunities and for ensur- ing that they embrace the notion that “education is the most precious gift.” Benjamin M. Del Vento, Sr. is a proud graduate of Rutgers Law School, a JD program he entered merely six days before classes were to begin and without having sat for the LSAT. During his time at Rutgers, he served as Class President for two years and then became the Student Bar Associ- ation President during his third year of law school. During his time as Student Bar President, he

established the school’s Speaker’s Forum where prominent attorneys from all over the U.S. were invited to speak on current events and legal issues at the School. One such noted speaker was Robert F. Kennedy. In addition to student government, Ben was a member of the National Moot Court Debate team which won honors in the national competition. After graduation, Ben served as a judicial clerk for the Hon. James R. Giuliano, J.S.C., Essex County. Ben first attend- ed a bar association event as the guest of Judge Giuliano. The Judge impressed upon the young lawyer the im- portance of active Bar membership, telling him, “Ben, this is something you must do for your life, become active in the Essex County Bar Association.” Ben took that message to heart and is a proud member of the ECBA for fifty-six years. He has chaired numerous programs, including the annual ECBF Golf Outing for many years, fundraising events, an- nual trips, and participated in the beloved Bon Ton event. For his efforts, he was the initial recipi- ent of the ECBA’s Walter A. Lucas Special Merit Award. Ben started his career in public service at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office under then Prosecutor Brendan Byrne. Upon en- tering private practice, he continued to serve the community by championing his clients’ interest in both civil and criminal court. He represented those with workplace injuries in Workers’ Compensation Court as well as in the Law Division. Later, he won numerous victories against manufacturers of defective products. Ben was a pioneer in the area of products liability law. One exam- ple, among many, is of an important case in the Superior Court of New Jersey against the Coca Cola Bottling Company involving the explosion of a large glass Coca Cola bottle. Ben proved that impurities in the glass and bottling process created a dangerous and hazardous condi- tion which resulted in his client sustaining substantial eye injuries from the explosion of the bottle and the glass shards created. His case was nationally recognized and was instrumental in Coca Cola Bottling Company eliminating all glass bottles, replacing them with plastic bottles. Ben is also an accomplished criminal practitioner. He enjoyed successes as an Assistant Prosecu- tor and as a criminal defense attorney. In the 1970’s, Ben represented a client who had been the subject of a search warrant resulting in evidence against him. He proved that then Attorney Gen- eral of the United States, John Mitchell’s signature had been forged on the warrant. The results of this finding gutted the government’s case and ultimately resulted in the dismissal of all charges against Ben’s client and 13 other co-defendants. Interestingly, retired Judge Donald Volkert was in

the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the time and even today recalls vividly that Ben’s handling of the case was heralded and recognized as an important criminal case. It is impossible to list all of Ben’s many accomplishments during his esteemed legal career. He was then and is still now a preeminent law- yer, the epitome of professionalism, and a man of integrity and generosity. In addition to his legal career, Ben has served on many committees, organizational boards, and as- sisted with numerous philanthropic foundations. From 2007-2009, he served as President of the New Jersey State Golf Association. He was the very first recipient of that organization’s Caddie Scholarship and first Scholarship recipient to be elected President. To date, he continues to raise money for their Scholarship Foundation. Ben’s dedication and service in this regard has been oft recognized. The Metropolitan Golf Writer’s Association awarded him with the “Outstanding Caddie Scholarship Award” which was presented by Jack Nicklaus. He also received the 2016 “Distinguished Service Award” from the New Jersey State Golf Association. Clearly an avid golfer, he was a member of the Rock Spring Golf Club for 35 years, serving on its Board of Governors and as its President. He is now a member of Baltusrol Golf Club. Additionally, he is on the Board of Trustees for the Columbian Foundation and Chairman of their Scholarship Committee for students in medicine, law and engineering. In 2008, he received their “Humanitarian and Achievement Award.” That same year, he was the recipient of the UNICO “Humanitarian and Man of the Year Award.” He is a member of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey State Opera Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Alumni, Board of Trustees. Ben has been married to his lovely wife Marie for 57 years. They have two sons, Benjamin, Jr. and Matthew who are both accomplished attorneys in their own right and two daughters-in-law they love as their own. Ben and Marie also have two beautiful grandchildren, Matthew, Jr. and Emma Marie, with whom they enjoy spending time. On behalf of the Officers, Trustees and Members of the Essex County Bar Association, we offer our deepest congratulations to Ben on this very deserving honor.



825 Bloomfield Avenue Glen Ridge, New Jersey 07028 The Borough of Glen Ridge Congratulates JOHN MALYSKA, ESQ. Class of 1971 for 50 years of dedication and service. Phone: 973.748.8400 Fax: 973.748.3926 www.glenridgenj.org



Congratulations to our friend and colleague Frank Pomaco on the 50th Anniversary of his Admission to the Bar 524 Union Avenue, P.O. Box 96 Belleville, NJ 07109 Office: 973-759-2807 www.gpmlegal.com



Congratulations Benjamin M. DelVento, Sr. the Most Wonderful Husband Father Grandfather We are so proud of you, Love you so!! Marie Karen & Ben Mary Ann & Matt Emma & Matthew

Congratulations to the Class of 1971 on Fifty Years of Dedicated Service! Benjamin M. Del Vento, P.A. Benjamin M. Del Vento, Sr. Benjamin M. Del Vento, Jr. Matthew D. Del Vento Hon. Carol A. Ferentz (Ret.) 70 South Orange Avenue Livingston, NJ 973-758-1801



John N. Malyska is not only a reputable attorney, but also an amazing father. He gives us the gift of perspective by teaching us to evaluate opportunities. He reminds us, “If you can do it, do it,” never simply saying “you can do it” or “you should do it.” Instead, he encourages us to think reflectively as to what is best and what is possible, which affirms the importance of small decisions and their impact on future possibilities. Of all the attributes we admire about our father, the one most defining is the one that is missing: self-importance. He is not one to flaunt or take rank. At heart, he is a helper and a thinker. He consistently and discretely helps others without asking for anything in return. His colleagues may not know that about him, but we, his daughters, certainly do. He lives by the same moral compass he instills in us. If he can, he does. Our father taught and continues to teach us to be problem-solvers, hard workers, and helpers. These qualities are imprinted on us and make us feel like we can do anything, just like he has been doing for his fifty-year career. We love you and are so proud! Your daughters, Nicole Malyska Beadles, Anne Malyska Cooper, & Mary Flora Malyska

To my dearest John, We have walked these last 50 years together. Each day you inspire me with your brilliance, dedication, selflessness and integrity. I am so proud, grateful, and more in love with you than when we started this journey ! Love, Mary Lou John N. Malyska



Congratulates John N. Malyska ECBA Members Admitted to the Practice of Law for 50 Years www.meyner.com

Congratulations to the Honorable Harry L. Starrett Words cannot express the admiration, appreciation & trust you've earned for the many years of exemplary service on our behalf. Michael & Glen Poller National Independent Truckers Insurance Company

Donald, Congratulations! Dad would be so proud. Love, Judy, Dennis, Jerry We are also very proud! Love, Christine, Angeli, Sean, Christian, & Mila

Congratulations to the greatest Grandpa in the world (and we checked!) We love you, Eileen, Matt, Elizabeth, Mollie, Brendan, and Ben

Congratulations TO OUR GOOD FRIEND Honorable Frank Pomaco, J.M.C. ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ADMISSION TO THE BAR AND TO ALL OF THIS YEAR’S HONOREES.











1971 The year 1971 was a turning point in history on many fronts. In the Vietnam war, the morale of the U.S. troops collapsed after the Battle of Fire Support Base Mary Ann, in March, and the largest ever anti-war demonstration happened in Washington D.C. in April with about 500,000 participants. Both sealed the outcome of the war four years later. The end of the Bretton-Woods system began when the Federal Republic of Germany stopped the Deutschmark exchange rate fixation to the U.S. dollar, and President Nixon stopped the fixation of the U.S. dollar to gold. That led to today’s known floating exchange rate system. On a political level, China returned to the international community when the U.S. ended its trade embargo, and the United Nations General As- sembly admitted the People’s Republic of China as a member. China is today the second-largest economy in the world. In science and technology, Texas Instruments and Intel developed their first microprocessors and launched digitalization. After a few fly byes, the race to Mars started with the Soviets’ Mars spacecraft program and the attempt to land probes on Mars, whereas the U.S. succeeded in launching the first spacecraft to orbit Mars. And finally, the first e-mail ever was sent in late 1971 — an invention that we could not live without today. Sports and popular culture also saw important landmarks, notably that Satchel Paige became the first Negro leagues player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Fight of the Century happened at Madison Square Garden wherein box- er Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali in a 15-round unanimous decision. Reflection of social attitudes, Patton won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film is also tied with George Seaton's Airport in receiving ten nominations. George C. Scott became the first actor to reject an Oscar, declining his Best Actor win claiming that all perfor- mances are unique artistic expressions which can’t be compared. In the law, Charles Manson and three of his followers received the death penalty. An important change extending voting rights happened with the formal certification of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Most notably, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down two landmark decisions. In Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, the Court unanimously held that busing of students may be ordered to achieve racial desegregation. The New York Times Co. v United States, also known as the Pentagon Papers Case, the court considered a first amendment issue related to freedom of the press. The Court’s ruling made it possible for The New York Times and The Washington Post newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment. Closer to home, Golden E. Johnson, Rutgers Law School 1971, was the first woman of color to serve as a municipal court judge in Newark, New Jersey. Also a member of the class of 1971, the Hon. Shirley Tolentino, Seton Hall Law 1971, was the first woman of color appointed as a Superior Court Judge in New Jersey. Judge Tolentino also made history as the first woman of color to serve as a judge on the Jersey City Municipal Court. These examples show the importance of the year 1971 and the long-lasting impact on our life, economy, and politics today. “… paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people.” Justice Hugo Black New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) • Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the American musical fantasy film starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka opened • Time’s Person of the Year was Richard Nixon • The U.S. table tennis team visits China - known as Ping Pong Diplomacy • China is admitted to the United Nations • A new stock market index called the Nasdaq debuts • Prison riot and prisoners take hostages at Attica Prison in New York, resulting in the death of 10 hostages and 29 inmates • Texas Instruments releases first pocket calendar • First Soft Contact Lens became available commercially in the U.S.A. • Cigarette Advertising Ended on Television in U.S.A. • Baltimore Colts won the Super Bowl V • Pittsburg Pirates won the World Series • U.S. PGA won by Jack Nicklaus • Average Cost of new house $28,300.00 • Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00 • Average Income per year $9,028.00 • Gallon of Milk $ 1.18 • Average Monthly Rent $150.00 • U.S. Stamp 8 cents • Gas per Gallon 36 cents