Erma R. Hallett Jaeckle

             Erma R. Hallett Jaeckle, a native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., is a UB alumna, J.D., 1936.  She was one of the several generations of UB students who rode the trolley to UB's Main and Bailey campus for her undergraduate study, but after completing three years she was admitted to the Law School.  One of her fond recollections of  UB undergraduate days is  participation in the UB Young Republicans, who occasionally held their meetings in the law offices of Mr. Edwin Jaeckle.  Mr. Jaeckle's occasional appearances at those meetings were, as she recalls it, a memorable experience for the students.

             A pioneering female lawyer, Mrs. Jaeckle was one of only four women in the Class of 1936.  Upon graduation, she took a position in the law offices of John Brown, before joining the Carborundum Co., where she specialized in patent work.  She later enlisted in the Coast Guard, and served during the war years in the legal department of the Merchant Marine Division, in both New York City and Washington D.C.  At war's end she returned to Buffalo, and became an attorney in the firm of Moot and Sprague.

             Shortly after her return, Ms. Hallett married Dr. Edward Viliaume and the couple had two sons, Edward III and William.  When Dr. Viliaume suddenly and tragically died in 1950, Mrs. Hallett-Viliaume decided to relocate herself and her young sons to St. Petersburg, Florida, where her parents had moved following her father's retirement from his business.  She passed the Florida bar; was admitted to practice there; and commenced practice in the law offices of Thomas Collins, who afforded her the opportunity to become a litigator in matrimonial and custody matters.  From that launch pad, Erma Hallett quickly became one of Florida's pre-eminent trial attorneys.  She formed her own firm – Hallett, Ford and Thurman – in which all the partners were women. 

             Over the balance of her career in active practice, Erma was a leader in the bar, serving for many years on the St. Petersburg Bar Association's Executive Committee and professional discipline committee.  She was asked to consider appointment as a judge, but declined because she preferred her life in practice.  She also was active in the community, organizing two women's groups.  One, Altrusa, was a women's service organization, which she served as its first president.  She also was a founder of the St. Petersburg Business and Professional Women's Club, and was a founding member of its Executive Committee.

             During one of her visits to Buffalo late in her career, Erma renewed her acquaintance with Edwin Jaeckle.  That renewal of an old friendship led to their marriage in 1971.  Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Jaeckle retired from her Florida practice, and returned home to Buffalo, of counsel to the Jaeckle firm and as the life partner to Buffalo's legendary Mr. Republican.