Liberty & Justice Dinner Honors New Builders Society Members
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Liberty & Justice Dinner Honors New Builders Society Members
May 27, 2014Touro Law Center honored 7 new members of its Builders Society at the annual With Liberty & Justice for All dinner held on May 14, 2014 at the Garden City Hotel. The annual event honors distinguished members of the Touro Law community for their service and dedication to the school. Funds raised at the dinner attended by nearly 300 people, support Touro Law Center’s annual fund.
“This dinner is an important way for Touro Law to publicly thank and acknowledge the critical support of our major donors and friends who have each played an important part in establishing a foundation for the future of Touro Law,” said Dean Patricia Salkin.
This year marked the third class of builders society members. This year’s honorees are:
Robert Abrams is the co-founder and an executive partner at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP. Bob is the guiding force behind the creation of Touro Law’s Aging and Longevity Law Institute and is the founding Chair of the Institute. He is a nationally recognized expert in Health and Elder Law and is a prolific educator and writer. Bob has twice been invited to participate in the once in a decade White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) and is an active member of the Touro Law Center Board of Governors.
Hal Abramson has been a Professor of Law at Touro Law Center for 31 years. His service to the law school includes nine years as vice dean, assistance with several accreditation inspections, securing AALS membership, earning approval for two summer abroad programs and establishing an LL.M. for foreign lawyers. He also served as acting dean in 1991. He is an internationally renowned scholar in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has produced scholarship including books and articles, conducted national and international trainings, created a national mediation representation competitions for law schools domestically and internationally. He received the 2013 Peace Builder Award from the NYS Dispute Resolution Association.
Frank Castagna, along with his wife Rita, is a principal of Castagna Realty Company, a third generation 90 year-old company specializing in the development and management of premier properties. Castagna Realty’s flagship operation, Americana Manhasset, is an internationally recognized luxury shopping destination. Frank and Rita Castagna are personally involved in many charitable endeavors and are active in many Long Island organizations. Frank’s philanthropy has significantly support the Touro Law Center Institute for Land Use and Sustainability Development Law.
Linda and Carl Baurle are long time employees and friends of Touro Law Center. Linda began her service at Touro Law in 1982 and currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Budget and Planning. Carl began working at Touro Law Center in 1986 and is now the Building Coordinator. Together they have helped to promote the mission of Touro Law among all students, faculty and staff members.
Eileen Kaufman has been a Professor of Law at Touro Law Center for 30 years. She has served as the law school’s vice dean and is founder of the summer program in India and co-director of the Israel program. She has received the Professor of the Year award on several occasions as well as many other accolades and awards for her teaching, writing and dedication to justice. She is a former co-president of Society of American Law Teachers (SALT). She has published extensively in the areas of civil rights, women’s rights and human rights.
Steven R. Schlesinger is the managing partner of Jaspan Schlesinger LLP and the partner in charge of the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group and its Appellate Practice Group. Steven concentrates his practice in the areas of general civil litigation, commercial and real estate matters and bankruptcy. He has been counsel in many federal and state court trials including numerous cases in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court. He is an active member of the Touro Law Center Board of Governors. As a trustee of the Kermit A. Gitenstein Foundation, Steven has been incredibly supportive of Touro Law, funding the Kermit A. Gitenstein Distinguished Visiting Health Law & Policy Chair and most recently the Kermit Gitenstein scholarships.
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Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center’s 185,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is located adjacent to both a state and a federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York. Touro Law’s proximity to the courthouses, coupled with programming developed to integrate the courtroom into the classroom, provide a one-of-a kind learning model for law students, combining a rigorous curriculum taught by expert faculty with a practical courtroom experience. Touro Law, which has a student body of approximately 750 and an alumni base of more than 5,000, offers full- and part-time J.D. programs, several dual degree programs and graduate law programs for US and foreign law graduates. Touro Law Center is part of the Touro College system.
About the Touro College and University System
Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris and Florida. New York Medical College, Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/media/.
Patti Desrochers
Director of Communications
pattid@tourolaw.edu
(631) 761-7062