Senate Resolution No. 5457

BY: Senator KENNEDY

MOURNING the death of Richard Lipsitz Sr.,
prominent Buffalo attorney, philanthropist and
devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in this Nation, and the
great State of New York, is reflective of the purposeful lives and good
works of those patriotic and civic-minded community members who dedicate
their lives and careers to the service of others; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to publicly mourn the death
of those prominent citizens whose lifework and purposeful endeavors have
served to enrich and enhance the quality and character of life for
others in their community and the great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Richard Lipsitz Sr. of Buffalo, New York passed away on
Friday, May 18, 2018, at the age of 97; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Lafayette High School at the young
age of 15, Richard Lipsitz Sr. earned his degree from the University at
Buffalo three years later; he obtained his law degree from University at
Buffalo Law School in 1942; and

WHEREAS, Richard Lipsitz Sr. was then drafted into the United States
Army where he proudly served his country as a Lieutenant under General
Douglas MacArthur during World War II; in this capacity, he was
responsible for the interrogation of Japanese civilians and labor
leaders to ascertain their roles, if any, in the fascist Japanese
government; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service, Richard
Lipsitz Sr. returned to his hometown; in 1946, he left Buffalo to take a
job with the San Juan, Puerto Rico, National Labor Relations Board; and

WHEREAS, Richard Lipsitz Sr. returned to Western New York one year
later, and formed a law partnership with his brother-in-law, which is
currently known as Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, et al; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished law career, Richard Lipsitz
Sr. was a renowned civil liberties attorney, specializing in union-side
labor relations; much of his non-labor legal work was done on a pro bono
basis for clients who had very little money; and

WHEREAS, Richard Lipsitz Sr. also successfully defended many
individuals who were persecuted because of alleged ties to the Communist
Party during the McCarthy era of American politics; and

WHEREAS, Richard Lipsitz Sr.'s most famous case was tried in front
of the United States Supreme Court in 1967; the decision in this case,
which involved a requirement that professors at the University at
Buffalo take a loyalty oath to maintain employment, struck down the
Feinberg Law and protected the freedom of association and academic
freedom under the First Amendment; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, after more than four decades of service, Richard
Lipsitz Sr. officially retired, however, he maintained a number of
clients until his last arbitration in 2011; and

WHEREAS, A proud Buffalonian, Richard Lipsitz, Sr. set an example
for all by exemplifying what it means to give of oneself; he was a
beautiful light in the lives of all those with whom he came in contact;
and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife, the former Rita Green, Richard
Lipsitz Sr. is survived by his daughter, Nan Haynes, a retired law
professor with the University at Buffalo Law School; two sons, Richard
Lipsitz Jr., President of the Western New York Area Labor Federation,
AFL-CIO; and John Lipsitz, partner at Lipsitz and Ponterio; five
grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Richard Lipsitz Sr.'s life was a portrait of service, a
legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a
comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Richard Lipsitz Sr., prominent Buffalo attorney,
philanthropist and devoted member of his community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Richard Lipsitz Sr.