MCBA Annual Installation of the 119th President.
Nearly 350 attorneys, judges, colleagues and friends gathered to installation the 119th President of the MCBA.
1. Platinum Sponsors
THANK YOU TO OUR
GENEROUS UNDERWRITERS
&
Silver Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
•••
The swearing in of the Board of Trustees of the
Monroe County Bar Association
and the Board of Directors of the
Foundation of the Monroe County Bar
With a special farewell to
•••
NEIL J. ROWE
DIANE M. CECERO
and the Installation of the President of the
Foundation of the Monroe County Bar
and President-Elect
STEVEN V. MODICA
Installation of the 119th President of the
Monroe County Bar Association
•••
C. BRUCE LAWRENCE
June 19, 2014 Hyatt Regency Rochester
2. For more information please visit
www.mcba.org/foundation
or call Liz Novak at 546-1817.
The Foundation of the Monroe
County Bar is how the legal
community can make a difference.
DON’T STOP DREAMING
The Foundation supports charitable
and humane programs that benefit
MCBA members and the community.
KEEP RAISING THE BAR
3. 33% of attorneys suffer from
substance abuse or depression.*
Challenging workloads. Long hours.
Emotionally-charged environments.
You are not alone.
It’s your life. It’s your career.
It’s your call.
Lawyers Concerned For Lawyers
A program of the Monroe County Bar Association
For confidential assistance,
Call 585-234-1950.
Confidential and Protected (Judiciary Law Section 499;
Federal Regulation 42 CFR Part 2; NYSBA
Ethics Committee Opinion #531, 1981).
INSTALLATION OF THE 119TH PRESIDENT
June 19, 2014
Welcome and Introductions Diane M. Cecero
In Memoriam Hon. Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
50-Year Honorees
50-Year Remarks
Diane M. Cecero and the
Young Lawyers Section
James C. Moore
The President’s Award for Professionalism
Sanford R. Shapiro
The President’s Award
CDO/ACP Committee
Diane M. Cecero
Diane M. Cecero
The Raymond J. Pauley Award
Brian J. Barney
Cynthia L. Snodgrass
The Charles F. Crimi Memorial Award
Catherine M. Callery
Diane M. Cecero
Emerging Bar Leader Award
Penny A. Dentinger
Diane M. Cecero
The Justin L. Vigdor Senior Attorney Award
For Service
Elaine Z. Cole
Mingle with your colleagues
Diane M. Cecero
Farewell Presentation to the President Steven V. Modica &
Mary C. Loewenguth
President’s Farewell Remarks Diane M. Cecero
Swearing in of the President and the Board
of the Monroe County Bar Association
Hon. Jonathan W. Feldman
Remarks by the 2014-15 MCBA President Steven V. Modica
Swearing in of the President and Board of Directors
of the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar
Hon. Jonathan W. Feldman
Remarks by Foundation President C. Bruce Lawrence
Executive Director’s Gratitude Mary C. Loewenguth
Adjournment Mary C. Loewenguth
Mingle with your colleagues and enjoy your dinner!
4.
5. Steven V. Modica
Steven V. Modica was born in New York City on
May 10, 1961. After completing his undergradu-
ate education at the State University of New York
at Albany in 1983, Mr. Modica earned a law de-
gree and a masters degree in public administra-
tion in 1986 from Syracuse University.
From 1986-88, Mr. Modica worked as a Judicial
Law Clerk with the New York Supreme Court, Ap-
pellate Division, Fourth Department. Thereafter, he
worked as an attorney for the United States Fed-
eral Trade Commission in Washington, DC.
Since 1990, Mr. Modica has been in private prac-
tice. He concentrates his practice in labor and
employment (including whistleblower), disability
benefit, workers' compensation, work place acci-
dent and personal injury matters. He also has a mediation and arbitration prac-
tice. He is certified as a mediator by the United States District Court for the West-
ern District of New York.
Mr. Modica has represented clients in state and federal court proceedings (trial
and appeal), labor arbitration hearings and in proceedings before governmen-
tal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the New York Workers'
Compensation Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the
New York State Retirement System and the New York Public Employment Rela-
tions Board.
Mr. Modica has served in the leadership of various professional and community
agencies. Mr. Modica is President-Elect of the Monroe County Bar Association
and will become its 119th President on July 1, 2014.
Mr. Modica is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell which indicates that his work and
ethics are of the highest quality as determined from peer review of Judge and
lawyers. He is a "top rated" labor & employment lawyer and a "super" lawyer in
workers' compensation and labor & employment law.
Mr. Modica and his wife, Lorrie, reside in Spencerport with their daughter Anne
and dogs, Bella and Louie.
119TH PRESIDENT OF THE
MONROE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
6. PRESIDENT OF THE
FOUNDATION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BAR
C. Bruce Lawrence
Long active in the organized bar, C. Bruce Law-
rence previously served as President of the Mon-
roe County Bar Association, as Vice President for
the 7th Judicial District on the New York State Bar
Association’s Executive Committee for 6 years,
and for two years as Secretary of the State Bar.
Mr. Lawrence is now the President Elect of the
Foundation of the Monroe County Bar.
A major focus of his NYSBA and MCBA involve-
ment has been with access to justice issues. Mr.
Lawrence was the first chair of the MCBA’s Presi-
dent’s Commission on Access to Justice, of which
he is still a member. He has served on NYSBA’s
President’s Committee on Access to Justice con-
tinuously since 1996. During the five years that he
Co-Chaired the PCAJ, with NYSBA’s then President
Elect, he worked on issues of pro bono service, defining pro bono, model pro
bono law firm plans, IOLA distribution, the creation of the Justice luncheon at
the NYSBA Annual Meeting, and adequate funding from New York State for
legal services to the indigent. As a Co-Chair of the Special Committee on
Funding for Civil Legal Services, he was a leader in the development of
NYSBA’s Cy Pres Manual, a blueprint for gaining funding for legal services
through unclaimed class action awards. For the last 3 years he has served on
Chief Judge Lippman’s Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services in
New York.
Mr. Lawrence co-chair’s NYSBA’s Special Committee on Student Loan Assis-
tance for the Public Interest. As a member of the Board of the Volunteer Legal
Service Project (VLSP), he is active in that organizations effort to provide debt
counseling advice and consumer bankruptcies to those in need. Mr. Law-
rence received VLSP’s McKnight Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service and
NYSBA’s President’s Pro Bono Service Award.
Mr. Lawrence heads Boylan Code’s Creditor’s Rights Practice Group, where
he practices in the fields of debtor/creditor law, bank and commercial collec-
tions, business loan workouts, and commercial bankruptcy.
In 2013 he received the MCBA’s Rodenbeck Award for his professionalism and
community service.
2013-14 MCBA PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
Thank you to members of the MCBA President’s Circle, generously
donating $250 or more to the Association.
Culver K. Barr
Donald L. Bilgore
Hon. Peter M. Blauvelt
Richard A. Calabrese*
Gregory R. Connors
Hon. Richard A. Dollinger
Angelo G. Faraci
Robert A. Feldman
Thomas A. Fink
Jay M. Friedman
Hon. Harold L. Galloway
Lawrence I. Goldstein
John L. Greisberger
Paul O. Harrison
Thomas C. Hartzell Sr.
Warren H. Heilbronner
David L. Hoffberg
Frank B. Iacovangelo
Leon Katzen
Paul K. Lange
Sherman F. Levey
David A. Merkel
Hon. Michael J. Miller
Steven V. Modica
Richard D. Morris
Joan de R. O’Byrne
Nathan J. Robfogel
Anne M. Schneiderman
Sanford R. Shapiro
Hon. Andrew V. Siracuse
Kari A. Smoker
Michael T. Tomaino
Justin L. Vigdor
Connie O. Walker
G. Robert Witmer, Jr.
* Deceased
7. FIFTY YEAR HONOREES
Class of 1964
D. Dyson Gay James C. Moore Paul E. Mura
Edwin M. Larkin Stanley A. Gordon Michael A. Polozie
Jon L. Schumacher Bernard D. Levine David C. Pelton
IN MEMORIAM
David I. Berlowitz Alfred P. Kremer Irving Pheterson
John E. Blyth Roy H. Lockwood Drew B. Ramsey
Hon. David O. Boehm Stephen P. Mayka Joseph C. Rinere, Jr.
Richard A. Calabrese Robert G. McCarthy William G. Servis
Thomas J. Cocuzzi Daniel Lincoln Miller Michael J. Shortley, III
Eileen T. Duggan Frank R. Monfredo Sherwood M. Snyder
Patrick S. Egan Michael E. O’Neill Joseph A. Taddeo, Sr.
Paul A. Fischer John C. Osborn Robert L. Teamerson
George F. Frey Joseph F. Papa Wallace J. Wolf, Jr.
Frederic C. Goodwin, III
Lloyd Hurst
Jordan E. Pappas
Thomas H. Parmele
William T. Yorks
Deceased honorees include attorneys who were honored at the 2013 Memorial Cere-
mony in November as well as attorneys who have passed away over the past year.
8.
9. THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR PROFESSIONALISM
Presented to:
Sanford R. Shapiro
Sanford R. (Sandy) Shapiro has been Senior Litigation Counsel at Forsyth, Howe,
O’Dwyer, Kalb & Murphy, P.C. since 2012. Prior to that, he was Of Counsel at
Boylan, Brown, Code, Vigdor & Wilson, LLP (currently Boylan Code LLP), and
founding partner at Shapiro, Rosenbaum, Liebschutz & Nelson, LLP, where he
was engaged primarily in civil litigation and appeals.
Mr. Shapiro is an Honorary member of the Monroe County Bar Association
(MCBA) and has been a member since he was admitted in 1961. Mr. Shapiro
currently serves on the MCBA’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Shapiro is a past chair of
the MCBA’s Professional Performance Committee, Federal Courts Committee
and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Committee. Mr. Shapiro also is a past di-
rector of Monroe County Legal Assistance Program (now LawNY).
In addition to Bar and legal related activities, Mr. Shapiro has been involved in
several community endeavors, including Friends of Rochester Public Library, The
Little Theatre Film Society, Inc., Browncroft Neighborhood Association, Grove
Place Neighborhood Association and Project Unique, a not-for-profit corpora-
tion directing World of Inquiry School and Artists-In-Residence Program.
Mr. Shapiro is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law.
10. THE FOUNDATION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BAR
The Monroe County Bar Association, originally formed as the Rochester
Bar Association, was organized in 1892. What started with just 25 mem-
bers, has grown to 2,000 law professionals in Monroe County, committed
to improving the quality and accessibility of justice; promoting respect for
and understanding of the law; enhancing professional growth, fulfillment,
excellence, collegiality and diversity among its members; and serving as
the voice of the law profession. The MCBA is actively involved with both
the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association
and is considered one of the premier local bar associations in the country.
Throughout its existence, the Monroe County Bar has earned statewide
and national recognition as an innovative leader among local voluntary
bars. The MCBA's success in uniting the Association and all Rochester area
legal services providers under a single roof in the Telesca Center for Jus-
tice in downtown Rochester is an example of transforming a vision into
reality.
Founded in 1951, the Foundation is the charitable arm of the Monroe
County Bar Association, with a mission of supporting the charitable, edu-
cational, civic and humane purposes of the MCBA. The Foundation is
dedicated to ensuring access to justice for all, educating the communi-
ty about our legal system, and assisting the members of our Bar Associa-
tion in need.
As a result of attorney contributions, the Foundation is able to provide
funding to a number of worthwhile programs and initiatives, including
Deaf Equal Access Fund, Lawyers for Learning’s Peace Camp, Roches-
ter Legal Diversity Clerkship Program, Rochester Teen Court, and the
Sydney R. Rubin Mock Trial Competition.
If you would like to make a donation, please go to
www.mcba.org/Foundation/Donations.
MONROE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
11. 2014-15 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Monroe County Bar Association
William G. Bauer
Roger Brazill
Michael E. Davis
Sareer A. Fazili
Deborah M. Field
Peter J. Glennon
Wende J. Knapp
Cindy O. Lapoff
Timothy P. Lyster
Elizabeth J. McDonald
Sarah S. Merkel
Amy E. Schwartz
Sanford R. Shapiro
Josie M. Sheppard
Karen Bailey Turner
2014-15 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Foundation of the Monroe County Bar
President
Steven V. Modica
President-Elect
Neil J. Rowe
Treasurer
Amy L. Varel
Secretary
Mark D. Funk
Immediate Past President
Diane M. Cecero
Executive Director
Mary C. Loewenguth
President
C. Bruce Lawrence
President-Elect
Elaine Z. Cole
Treasurer
Roger C. Battaglia
Secretary
Penny A. Dentinger
Ex Officio Members
Steven V. Modica
Neil J. Rowe
Mary C. Loewenguth
Carey Ann Denefrio
Maureen Garvey
Cheryl A. Heller
Lana K. Ivy
Harold A. Kurland
James P. McElheny
Hon. Karen L. Morris
Laura A. Myers
Carolyn G. Nussbaum
Joan de R. O’Byrne
Luis E. Ormaechea
Audrey P. Peartree
Joy Ryen Plotnik
Peter J. Pullano
Michael S. Schnittman
Stephen G. Schwarz
Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford
THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Presented to:
CDO/ACP Committee
The CDO/ACP Committee was convened to review the current CDO/ACP plan
and advise the trustees on potential amendments to the plan.
The Committee is comprised of:
Jon P. Getz, Chair
Mark D. Funk
Hon. Joan S. Kohout
Paul D. MacAulay
Hon. David A. Murante
Edward J. Nowak
Jill L. Paperno
Karen Baily Turner
Robert P. Turner
Connie O. Walker
12.
13. THE JUSTIN L. VIGDOR
SENIOR ATTORNEY AWARD FOR SERVICE
Presented to:
Elaine Z. Cole
Elaine Z. Cole graduated from Buffalo State College and the Columbus School of
Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She moved to Rochester to start
her legal career at Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co. and then became an
associate in the real estate department at Chamberlain D’Amanda Oppenhei-
mer and Greenfield. She recently retired after 22 years as the District Tax Attor-
ney for the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
Ms. Cole has been an active member of the MCBA her entire career. She has
been a Trustee, and is a past chair of the Fee Arbitration Committee. After
chairing the first two Jazz For Justice events for the Foundation of the MCBA, she
now leads the Foundation’s Strategic Planning team. She will become the Foun-
dation’s President-Elect on July 1, 2014.
Elaine was the 13th president of the Greater Rochester Association for Women
Attorneys, and has served on, or chaired, several of its committees. Currently,
she co-chairs its CLE efforts, and guides its book club. Elaine is a member of the
Irondequoit Public Library Board, and is the Vice President of the IPL Foundation.
She thanks her husband Bill for his patient endurance of “her crusades”, as he
puts it.
THE RAYMOND J. PAULEY AWARD
Presented to:
Brian J. Barney
Brian J. Barney is a partner in the law firm of Barney & Affronti, LLP. Mr. Barney
graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1978 and was admit-
ted to practice law in the State of New York of January of 1979. In his more than
35-year legal career, he has focused his attention and practice in the field of
Family Law.
Mr. Barney is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association, New York State
Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Family Law Sections of
each of those associations, as well as being a member of the American Acade-
my of Matrimonial Lawyers. In addition, he is the past Chair of the Family Law
Section of the Monroe County Bar Association and of the New York State Bar
Association, and continues to serve on the New York State Bar Association’s
Family Law Section Executive Committee.
Mr. Barney has spoken on Family Law topics at over 100 seminars conducted by
the various Bar Associations of which he is a member. He has been named in all
publications of “Best Lawyers in America” in the field of Family Law. In 2009, the
first year “Best Lawyers in America” awarded the distinction, Mr. Barney was
named the Best Family Lawyer in Rochester, NY.
Mr. Barney was selected and has served on the Office of Court Administration’s
Matrimonial Commission chaired by the Honorable Sondra Miller, and also
served for several years on the Office of Court Administrators Matrimonial Forms
Committee chaired by the Honorable Jacqueline Silberman.
Each year for over 15 years, Mr. Barney has presented for the Monroe County
Bar an annual review of Matrimonial Family Law cases decided by the Appel-
late Division, Fourth Department.
14. THE CHARLES F. CRIMI MEMORIAL AWARD
Presented to:
Catherine M. Callery
Catherine M. (Kate) Callery is a senior staff attorney with the Disability Advocacy
Program (DAP) Unit in Empire Justice Center’s Rochester office. Ms. Callery’s
practice focuses on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability
issues. Ms. Callery represents individual claimants before the Social Security Ad-
ministration (SSA) and in federal court, including the Court of Appeals for the
Second Circuit. In addition to litigation, she works on system change advocacy
within SSA. Ms. Callery also does research and training, acts as an informational
clearinghouse, and provides litigation backup to other legal services programs
and community based organizations.
Ms. Callery previously served as the Supervising Attorney of the DAP Unit at the
Public Interest Law Office of Rochester (PILOR) and the Monroe County Legal
Assistance Corporation. Ms. Callery was an Assistant Public Defender in the early
1980s.
Ms. Callery is a past president of GRAWA (Greater Rochester Association for
Women Attorneys) and former member of the Board of Trustees of the MCBA.
Ms. Callery is a graduate of Smith College and the University of Connecticut Law
School. Ms. Callery is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.
EMERGING BAR LEADER AWARD
Presented to:
Penny A. Dentinger
Penny A. Dentinger is an Attorney in Xerox Corporation’s Office of General
Counsel, advising the sales and operations teams that provide document out-
sourcing services and products to customers. Prior to Xerox, Penny practiced in
New York City in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Dewey Ballantine LLP
(2004-2007). In September 2007, Penny moved back to Rochester and worked
at Nixon Peabody LLP as an Associate in the Global Business Transactions Group
until joining Xerox in April 2013. Penny received her Juris Doctor degree from
SUNY Buffalo Law School, where she served as a Publications Editor on the UB
Law Review and graduated magna cum laude.
Ms. Dentinger is an active member of the MCBA, serving on the Business Law
Council, Lawyers for Learning, Ethics Committee and the Young Lawyers Sec-
tion. In fall 2008, Ms. Dentinger was a key member of a small team that reinvig-
orated the Young Lawyers Section. Ms. Dentinger and her colleagues planned
several social gatherings, networking functions, educational programs, and
fundraising activities aimed at recruiting members and energizing the newest
members of the bar, including the first annual YLS Silent Auction in May 2009,
which raises money for Rochester’s Teen Court. These efforts led to a
reemergence of a large, enthusiastic section of the bar. Ms. Dentinger has
served on the Executive Committee as Secretary, Treasurer and Co-Chair of the
Social Committee from 2008-2013 and continues as a member today. Ms. Dent-
inger also volunteered at the Foundation’s Jazz For Justice – in 2013 serving as a
Steering Committee member and Chair of the Food Committee, and this year as
a member of the Silent Auction Committee. Ms. Dentinger continues her efforts
in service as a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, where she serves
on the Nominating Committee and the Development Committee. She will begin
her term as Secretary on July 1, 2014.
In addition, Ms. Dentinger gives back to the Rochester community through other
charitable endeavors. She is a member of the UB Law Rochester Alumni Steering
Committee and will begin her term as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee in
September 2014. Ms. Dentinger also is a member of the Open Door Mission’s
Capital Campaign Steering Committee, and volunteers at the Dimitri House and
Loop Ministries’ monthly “Food for the Soul” lunch and food distribution pro-
gram. She combines her love for cooking and giving, by serving as a guest chef
for auctioned dinners in support of VLSP and Jazz For Justice. Previously, Ms.
Dentinger was recognized for her professional and charitable achievements by
The Rochester Business Journal (40 under 40 Award, 2012) and The Daily Record
(Up and Coming Attorney Award, 2011).