Senate Resolution No. 468

BY: Senator KAPLAN

HONORING Lois Schwaeber upon the occasion of her
retirement after many years of distinguished service
to the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic
Violence

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those
individuals whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to
enhance the stature of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor Lois
Schwaeber upon the occasion of her retirement after many years of
distinguished service to the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic
Violence; and

WHEREAS, Lois Schwaeber graduated from Queens College and was
awarded her Juris Doctor degree from Touro Law Center, cum laude; she
was admitted to practice in the State of New York and in all the Federal
Courts; and

WHEREAS, Lois Schwaeber served as the Director of Legal Services
with the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence; she has
worked in the field of domestic violence since 1993, first supervising
and administrating a domestic violence clinic for law school students in
Suffolk, County, New York, then providing direct representation to
Coalition's clients; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, Lois Schwaeber was appointed the Director of Legal
Services for the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence where
she supervised the legal department which consists of five attorneys who
provide direct legal representation to victims of domestic violence and
rape/sexual assault in civil legal proceedings including family
offenses, custody/visitation, child support, paternity and immigration
proceedings; the Court Advocacy Program, which provides legal
information and support to walk-in victims at all the Nassau County
Dedicated Domestic Violence Parts, including the Nassau County Family
Court; and the Legal Resource Network, a pro bono project designed to
recruit and train volunteer attorneys to provide representation to the
backlog of victims unable to afford private attorneys to represent them
primarily in matrimonial proceedings; and

WHEREAS, Recognized as an authority in the field of domestic
violence, Lois Schwaeber organized, conducted, and participated in many
professional forums and trainings; she also partook in numerous
workshops on domestic violence, lectured to many community organizations
on this subject, and appeared on several television programs addressing
intimate partner violence and custody/visitation; and

WHEREAS, Lois Schwaeber is the author of Domestic Violence: The
Special Challenge in Custody and Dispute Resolution; Representing the
Domestic Violence Client in Matrimonial Actions; Domestic Violence in
Custody and Visitation Proceedings; and Recognizing Domestic Violence:
How to Know It When You See It and How to Provide Appropriate
Representation; and


WHEREAS, Well-known for her strong work ethic, Lois Schwaeber has
been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including: the
Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Joan L. Ellenbogen
Award in May 2011 and the Touro Law Center Alumni Council Public
Interest Award in January 2011; and

WHEREAS, In addition, she received the 2006 Nassau NOW Women's
Equality Award as an Advocate For Survivors of Violence Against Women,
and in June of 1998, she was the recipient of the Nassau County Women's
Bar Associations: Virginia C. Duncombe, Esq., Memorial Award for
Exceptional Contributions to Women's Legal Education; and

WHEREAS, Moreover, Lois Schwaeber was honored by the Nassau County
Judicial Women's In the Courts Committee for her work with them in 2006
and 2009; and

WHEREAS, Lois Schwaeber is very active in other public interest and
community based philanthropic and legal organization; she is co-Chair of
the Domestic Violence Committee of the Women's Bar Association of the
State of New York and serves as a member of several committees, task
forces, work groups and advisory committees, such as: the Nassau County
Executive's Family Violence Task Force; the New York State Coalition
against Domestic Violence's Legislative Committee; the Nassau County's
Judicial Women in the Courts Committee; and the Nassau County Bar
Association's We Care Fund Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her four children and her
grandchildren, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and
rejoice in her achievements; and

WHEREAS, Lois Schwaeber rendered faithful, conscientious and
valuable service to Legal Services with the Nassau County Coalition
Against Domestic Violence; in her capacity as Director, she served with
loyalty, honor and distinction; and

WHEREAS, In her official acts, Lois Schwaeber was governed by a keen
sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems which
earned her the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Lois Schwaeber upon the occasion of her retirement, and to wish
her well in all her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Lois Schwaeber.