CLASS NOTES 1970s


Campbell Barrett ’71 of the Connecticut law firm Pullman & Comley was named to The Best Lawyers in America 2023 list for family law and has received this honor every year since 2017. He was also named Hartford Lawyer of the Year for family law in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Barrett has won a number of appellate and matrimonial cases, including many that set precedent in Connecticut.


Howard Lee ’73, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, passed away on June 21, 2022, at the Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. Howard, 75, was devoted to American University and the Washington College of Law volunteering his time in a variety of capacities. Howard served on the AUWCL Dean’s council, receiving the AUWCL Dean’s Award and was a distinguished member of AUWCL’s Mooers Society and Mussey-Gillett Society.


David F. Axelrod ’78 was recently recognized in the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America for corporate compliance law. He is a partner in the Columbus, Ohio, office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.


1980s


Robin Janick Weinberger ’80 retired as chief deputy clerk of court from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri.


Judith Benderson ’82, an artist, painted a beautiful 12-foot triptych Ukrainica which was displayed in the Village Center auditorium.


Peter Buchbauer ’82 is currently serving as the USA chapter president of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He


is a diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is also past chair of the family law section of the Virginia State Bar.


Stephanie Farrior ’82 was one of two recipients of Human Rights First’s inaugural Proven Pioneers Award given by the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board of this human rights NGO for work on women’s human rights and, more broadly, human rights.


William Bonesso ’85 of Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP was selected to the 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers list for L (land use and zoning).


Michael A. “Bert” Bedeau ’87 is retiring from his career in historic preservation and architectural history as district administrator and chief history commissioner for the Comstock Historic District Commission in Virginia City, Nevada.


Michael D. Jankowski ’88 was among Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren’s attorneys selected for inclusion in the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America.


Scott Bermack ’89 was appointed to the Sports and Entertainment Risk Management Alliance (SERMA) Advisory Board.


Martha Knutson ’89 is serving as the 2022-23 president of the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys and is also teaching Healthcare Law and Compliance at the University of Saint Francis in Indiana.


Michael Newman ’89 was sworn in as a US district judge for the Southern District of Ohio, with chambers in Dayton, Ohio. Judge Newman serves as chair of the Southern District’s civics committee and was


44 THE ADVOCATE SUMMER/FALL 2023


recently reappointed as co-chair of the civics committee for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.


1990s


Eric Gertler ’90 received an honorary doctorate degree from Tel Aviv University in appreciation of his dedication to public service in New York and contributions to Israel in academic, economic, social, and cultural spheres, including his service as a governor of Tel Aviv University. He also recently assumed the role of CEO at US News & World Report.


Thomas J. Conte ’93, a partner at Mirick O’Connell, was selected to the 2022 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Conte has tried over thirty matters and has expertise in dispute resolution, business, real estate, construction, and tort-defense litigation.


Elisabeth Myers ’93 is chief legal strategist for the Pan- African Institute for Municipal Development and recently oversaw a training program for a 15-member delegation of Senegalese mayors. When not working on development and the rule of law, Elisabeth leads cultural tours to the Moroccan Sahara.


Jodi Cleesattle ’94 has assumed the office of president-elect at California Women Lawyers. She’s also a supervising deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice, where she works in the Employment and Administrative Mandate section in San Diego.


Ilisa Bernstein ’95 was appointed interim CEO of APhA and is


the first female CEO in the organization’s 170-year history.


Julie M. Cillo ’95 was sworn in as the Richmond Bar Association’s 138th president, and its sixth female president. Julie served the association in many roles including on the executive committee, the judiciary committee, and others. She is also a partner and family law attorney at Owen & Owens, PLC.


Rhonda D. Bond-Collins ’96, managing shareholder in Bryant Miller Olive’s Orlando office, was elected a fellow of the American College of Bond Counsel for demonstrated skill, experience, and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of bond law. She has more than 25 years’ experience practicing in all areas of tax-exempt and taxable financing.


Amanda La Forge ’97 was brought on to serve on Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s leadership team as chief legal counsel. She was previously of counsel to Sandler, Reiff, Lamb, Rosenstein & Birkenstock and has over 20 years’ experience advising clients on election law, election administration, campaign finance, non-profit taxation and governance, and contractual and commercial matters affecting political and advocacy organizations.


Marisa Cianciarulo ’98 was appointed as dean of Western State College of Law. She previously served at Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law as interim dean and founded and directed the Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic. Other recognitions include receiving Professor of the Year and the Valerie Scudder Award for teaching, scholarship, and service.


Cheryl Williams ’99 leſt the


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