LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of prominent lawyer and
philanthropic leader Irwin Schneiderman

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman died on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at
the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman distinguished himself in his profession
and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman's commitment to excellence, and his spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including char-
itable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 28,
1923; his father, Meyer, worked in wholesale produce, and his mother,
Bess, was a homemaker; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman lived in Williamsburg and Brooklyn
Heights, among other neighborhoods, and attended Boys High School; he
graduated from Brooklyn College in 1943, served in the United States
Navy, and in 1948 graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman, who joined the law firm of Cahill, Gordon
& Reindel in 1949, had a reputation as a sharp corporate attorney with a
strong affinity for the arts; he was one of the first Jewish attorneys
at the firm; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman became a partner in 1959 and represented
corporate clients including Columbia Pictures, E.F. Hutton & Co, ConTel
Corp, and former investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert; he became
senior counsel in 1990; and
WHEREAS, A co-chair of the New York City Opera from 1993 to 2003,
Irwin Schneiderman's legal specialty was advising troubled corporations;
he was a well-known supporter of Brooklyn College and the Central Park
Conservancy, and he also served as a director emeritus of Lincoln
Center; and
WHEREAS, In the mid-1990s, Irwin Schneiderman was chairman of a
nonprofit foundation created to buy the public radio stations WNYC-AM
and FM from New York City; the transaction saved the stations from being
sold to private buyers; and
WHEREAS, Irwin Schneiderman is survived by his wife, Roberta, son,
Eric, daughter-in-law Jennifer, his granddaughter and his two brothers;
and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Irwin Schneiderman leaves behind 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 prominent lawyer and philanthropic leader Irwin
Schneiderman; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Irwin Schneiderman.