University at Buffalo (UB)
Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Awards are given in six categories: the judiciary, private practice, public service, community service, business, and service by a non-alumnus. They are traditionally presented at the Annual Law Alumni Dinner.
Past Award Recipients:
Criteria
Award recipients should be alumni/ae of the School of Law, but need not be a member of the Alumni Association. Awards may be given posthumously. They may be awarded on separate occasions to the same person in more than one category. Each should be a person who has brought credit to the School of Law and its alumni/ae. Preference should be given to those who are able and willing to be physically present to receive the award
For the Judiciary: This award may be conferred upon members of the judiciary serving in any court of law; however, it should not include administrative law judges or hearing examiners (Persons serving in such positions might be considered for a public service award). Recipients should be knowledgeable in the law and diligent and skillful in conducting research; efficient and diligent in the disposition of cases; considerate of the time and courteous toward attorneys, litigants, jurors and court personnel; openminded; honest and conscientious
For Private Practice: This award does not require that the recipient be in active practice when nominated. Recipients should have the respect of fellow practitioners and they should enhance the image of the profession. He or she should be knowledgeable in the law; courteous and tactful in dealing with attorneys, clients, the judiciary and others; honest and trustworthy; diligent and prompt in handling clients affairs; scrupulously ethical; and considerate of the time of clients, fellow attorneys, the judiciary and others
For Public Service: Recipients of this award should be courteous, knowledgeable and skilled in their fields of public service. They should enjoy the respect and admiration of members of the public and the bar, give their time and assistance to members of the public and the profession; devote more energy, time and diligence to their callings than has been required by the terms of their employment; and possess reputations for integrity and conscientiousness
For Community Service: Recipients should enjoy the respect and admiration of fellow practitioners and members of the public. They should demonstrate devoted service in granting their time and assistance to charitable and/or community organizations
For Business/Corporate Counsel: This award does not require that the recipient be in active practice when nominated. Recipients should demonstrate strong leadership skills in business and/or corporate legal affairs. They should be knowledgeable in dealing with attorneys and business persons; courteous and tactful; honest and trustworthy; diligent and prompt in the handling of business and corporate legal matters. They should enhance the image of their business or profession and/or corporate legal profession
For Service by a Non-Alumnus: Recipients should demonstrate strong leadership skills and be highly respected by their fellow practitioners. They should also demonstrate devoted service in granting their time and assistance to the School of Law and the community
Past Award Recipients
2026 - watch the 2026 Awards Presentation
Hon. Stephen Lindley ’89 – Judiciary
John Feroleto ’82 – Private Practice
Elizabeth Fox-Solomon ’06 – Public Service
Hon. Gary A. Wilson Jr. ’08 – Community Service
Christine Smith Howard ’93 – Business
Satish K. Tripathi, PhD – Outstanding Service by a Non-Alumnus
2025 - watch the 2025 Awards Presentation
Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee ’86 – Judiciary
Kristin Graham Koehler ’94 – Private Practice
Michele A. Brown ’79 – Public Service
Joseph W. Belluck ’94 – Community Service
Carmen L. Snell ‘92 – Business
Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo – Outstanding Service by a Non-Alumnus
2024 - watch the 2024 Awards Presentation
Hon. Henry J. Nowak ’93 - Judiciary
Terrence M. Gilbride ’88 - Private Practice
Erin M. Barclay ’98 - Public Service
Hon. Stephanie A. Saunders ’00 - Community Service
Bruce Karpati ’96 - Business
John V. Elmore - Outstanding Service by a Non-Alumnus
2023 - watch the 2023 Awards Presentation
Hon. Kathy J. King ’84 - Judiciary
James W. Grable ’96 - Private Practice
Sen. Shelley Mayer ’79 - Public Servic
Anne E. Joynt ’05 - Community Service
Marc A. Alpert ’86 - Business
Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford Outstanding Service by a Non-Alumna
2022 - watch the 2022 Awards Presentation
Hon. Michael M. Mohun ’80 - Judiciary
David C. Schopp ’82 and Karen Andolina Scott ’09 - Public Service
Sachin Kohli ’06 - Private Practice
Jodyann Galvin ’98 - Community Service
Robert J. Gutowski ’99 - Business
Hon. David Edmunds, Jr. - Non-Alumnus
2020 (2021) - watch the 2020 Awards Presentation
Hon. John J. Ark ‘72 - Judiciary
Hon. John J. Flynn ‘95 - Public Service
David R. Pfalzgraf, Jr. ‘ 97 - Private Practice
Paula M. Ciprich ’85 - Business
Laurence K. Rubin ‘77 - Community Service
Hon. Shirley Troutman - Non-Alumna
2019 - watch the 2019 Awards Presentation
Hon. Alexander W. Hunter, Jr. - Judiciary
Caroline A. Wojtaszek - Public Service
Daniel C. Oliverio - Private Practice
Christopher A. Wightman - Business
Lenora B. Foote-Beavers - Community Service
Ilene Fleischmann - Non-Alumna
2018 - watch the 2018 Awards Presentation
Hon. Craig D. Hannah - Judiciary
Karen L. Nicolson - Public Service
Douglas W. Dimitroff - Private Practice
Bradley M. Gayton - Business
Steven J. Weiss - Community Service
Hon. Frank P. Geraci, Jr. - Non-Alumnus
2017 watch the 2017 Awards Presentation
Hon. Gerald J. Whalen - Judiciary
Marianne Mariano - Public Service
Paul R. Comeau - Private Practice
David E. Franasiak - Business
Tasha E. Moore - Community Service
Hon. Richard C. Wesley - Non-Alumnus
2016 - watch the 2016 Awards Presentation
Hon. Ralph A. Boniello - Judiciary
Trini E. Ross - Public Service
Neil A. Goldberg & Thomas F. Segalla - Private Practice
Mason P. Ashe - Business
Marilyn Tebor Shaw - Community Service
Hon. Kathy C. Hochul - Non-Alumna
2015 - watch the 2015 Awards Presentation
Hon. Judith J. Gische - Judiciary
Nicole C. Lee - Public Service
Dennis R. McCoy - Private Practice
Jonathan S. Beane – Business
Ann E. Evanko - Community Service
Hon. William M. Skretny - Non-Alumnus
2014 - watch the 2014 Awards Presentation
Hon. Eugene M. Fahey - Judiciary
Michael J. Surgalla - Public Service
Robert C. Schwenkel - Private Practice
William F. Savino - Business
Hon. Lisa Bloch Rodwin - Community Service
Hon. Robert T. Russell, Jr. - Non-Alumnus
2013 - watch the 2013 Awards Presentation
Hon. John M. Curran - Judiciary
Mark G. Pearce - Public Service
James P. Harrington - Private Practice
Carol M. Matorin - Business
Christopher L. Jacobs - Community Service
Lauren D. Rachlin - Non-Alumnus
2012 - watch the 2012 Awards Presentation
Hon Cynthia M. Rufe - Judiciary
William J. Hochul, Jr. - Public Service
Mark K. Suzumoto - Private Practice
Jill M. Bond - Business
Vincent E. Doyle III - Community Service
Michael S. Taheri - Non-Alumnus
2011
Hon Paula L. Feroleto - Judiciary
Kathleen M. Mehltretter - Public Service
Jeffrey L. Tanenbaum - Private Practice
Howard S. Rosenhoch - Community Service
Christopher J. O’Brien - Non-Alumnus
2010 - watch the 2010 Awards Presentation
Hon Erin M. Peradotto - Judiciary
Hon. Frank J. Clark - Public Service
Roger J. Jones - Private Practice
Hon. E. Jeannette Ogden - Community Service
Harvey L. Kaminski - Business
Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk - Non-Alumnus
2009
Hon. Jeffrey S. White - Judiciary
Elizabeth B. Mensch - Public Service
Brent L. Wilson - Private Practice
Lynn A. Clarke - Community Service
Anna Marie Cellino - Business
Hon. Sharon S. Townsend - Non-Alumna
2008
Hon. David J. Mahoney - Judiciary
Denise E. O’Donnell - Public Service
Francis M. Letro - Private Practice
Daniel T. Lukasik - Community Service
Thomas E. Black - Business
Makau W. Mutua - Non-Alumnus
2007
Hon Thomas M. Van Strydonck - Judiciary
Alan S. Carrel - Public Service
Margaret W. Wong - Private Practice
Richard Lipsitz - Community Service
William E. Mathias II - Business
Frederick G. Attea - Non-Alumnus
2006
Hon. John P. Lane - Judiciary
Hon. Elena Cacavas-Schietinger - Public Service
Garry M. Graber - Private Practice
Chrstopher T. Greene - Community Service
Robert P. Fine - Business
2005
Diane F. Bosse - Public Service
David R. Pfalzgraf - Community Service
Hon. Judith S. Kaye - Non-Alumna
2004
Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr. - Judiciary
Oliver C. Young - Public Service
Dianne Bennett - Private Practice
Jean C. Powers - Community Service
Erik D. Lindauser - Business
Matthew J. Murphy, III - Non-Alumnus
2003
Hon. Hugh B. Scott - Judiciary
Barbra A. Kavanaugh - Public Service
Lawrence H. Wagner - Private Practice
Michael R. Wolford - Community Service
David F. Smith - Business
Paul A. Tokasz - Non-Alumnus
2002
Hon. Julio M. Fuentes - Judiciary
Robert M. Elardo - Public Service
Kenneth A. Manning - Private Practice
John T. Frizzell - Community Service
Vikki L. Prior - Business
R. Nils Olsen - Non-Alumnus
2001
Hon. Barbara Howe - Judiciary
Joseph F. Crangle - Public Service
Carl A. Green - Private Practice
Judith B. Ittig - Community Service
Linda J. Nenni - Business
Pamela R. Jacobs - Non-Alumnus
2000
Hon. Rose H. Sconiers - Judiciary
Howard R. Relin - Public Service
Kenneth B. Forrest - Private Practice
Irving M. Shuman - Community Service
John J. Nasca - Business
Paul I. Birzon - Non-Alumnus
1999
Hon. Frank A. Sedita, Jr. - Judiciary
Hon. Patrick H. NeMoyer - Public Service
Samuel L. Shapiro - Private Practice
Gayle L V. Eagan - Community Service
Anthony J. Renaldo - Business
U S. Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds - Non-Alumnus
1998
Hon. Paul L. Friedman - Judiciary
George M. Hezel - Public Service
Peter J. Fiorella, Jr. - Private Practice
Paul C. Weaver - Community Service
Hon. Michael A. Amico - Business
Senator Marylou Rath - Non-Alumna
1997
Hon. Joseph D. Mintz - Judiciary
Hon. Dennis C. Vacco - Public Service
John D. Canale - Private Practice
Hon. Michael A. Battle - Community Service
Thomas R. Bremer - Business
Hon. Arthur O. Eve - Non-Alumnus
1996
Hon. Jacqueline M. Koshian - Judiciary
Hon. Kevin M. Dillon - Public Service
H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. - Private Practice
Brian D. Baird - Community Service Gordon R. Gross - Business
John B. Sheffer II - Non-Alumnus
1995
Hon. Joseph P. McCarthy - Judiciary
Thomas G. Maligno - Public Service
John H. Stenger - Private Practice
Anthony J. Colucci, Jr. - Community Service
Diane J. McMahon - Business
Hon. John J. LaFalce - Non-Alumnus
1994
Hon. Vincent E. Doyle, Jr. - Judiciary
Winnie F. Taylor - Public Service
Terrence M. Connors - Private Practice
James L. Magavern - Community
Owen F. Mangan - Business
1993
Hon. Beryl E. McGuire - Judiciary
Richard M. Tobe - Public Service
Harold J. Boreanaz - Private Practice
Pamela Davis Heilman - Community Service
William A. Niese - Business
1992
Hon. Thomas P. Flaherty - Judiciary
Harold J. Brand, Jr. - Public Service
Daniel T. Roach - Private Practice
William H. Gardner - Community Service
Joseph G. Makowski - Business
1991
Hon. Joseph S. Mattina - Judiciary
Clarence J. Sundram - Public Service
Joel L. Daniels - Private Practice
Thomas R. Beecher - Community Service
Gerald S. Lippes - Business
1990
Hon. Edmund F. Maxwell - Judiciary
Paul Gonson - Public Service
J. Mason Davis - Private Practice
Carl J. Montante - Community Service
Harold A. Dautch - Business (Posthumous)
1989
Hon. John J. Callahan - Judiciary
Hon. Dale M. Volker - Public Service
David G. Jay - Private Practice
Sue S. Gardner - Community Service
1988
Hon. Theordore S. Kasler - Judiciary
Maryann S. Freedman - Public Service
William R Brennan - Private Practice
1987
Hon. Ernest L. Colucci - Judiciary
Leslie G. Foschio - Public Service
Samuel D. Magavern - Private Practice
1986
Hon. Michael A. Telesca - Judiciary
George M. Martin - Public Service
Richard F. Griffin - Private Practice
1985
Hon. Rose D. LaMendola - Judiciary
Henry J. Nowak - Public Service
George M. Zimmermann - Private Practice
Charles Ryan Desmond - Special (Posthumous)
1984
Hon. Rudolph U. Johnson - Judiciary (Posthumous)
Louis A. DelCotto - Public Service
Herald Price Fahringer - Private Practice
1983
Hon. Ann T. Mikoll - Judiciary
Frank J. Boccio - Public Service
Edmund S. Brown, Sr - Private Practice
1982
Hon. Samuel L. Green - Judiciary
Robert E. Casey, Jr. - Public Service (Posthumous)
Philip J. O'Shea, Sr - Private Practice
1981
Hon. Joseph P. Kuszynski - Judiciary
Edward V. Regan - Public Service
J. Eugene McMahon - Private Practice
1980
Hon. M. Dolores Denman - Judiciary
Louis J. Russo - Public Service
Everett M. Barlow - Private Practice
1979
Hon. William J. Regan - Judiciary
Maurice Frey - Public Service
Albert R. Mugel - Private Practice
1978
Hon. Norman A. Stiller - Judiciary
Willard A. Genrich - Public Service
Wallace J. Stakel - Private Practice
1977
Hon. Frederick M. Marshall - Judiciary
Aaron Weinstein - Public Service
Philip H. Magner, Jr. - Private Practice
1976
Hon. Gilbert H. King - Judiciary
Adolf Homburger - Public Service
Joseph P. Runfola - Private Practice
1975
Hon. Sebastian J. Bellomo - Judiciary
Robert W. Grimm - Public Service
M. Robert Koren - Private Practice
John E. Leach - Special (Posthumous)
1974
Hon. Walter J. Mahoney - Judiciary
Michael F. Dillon - Public Service
Robert I. Millonzi - Private Practice
1973
Hon. Frank J. Luchowski - Judiciary
Samuel C. Battaglia - Public Service (Posthumous)
Clarence R. Runals - Private Practice
1972
Hon. John T. Curtin - Judiciary
Margaret D. Hazel - Public Service
William B. Mahoney - Private Practice
1971
Hon. John O. Henderson - Judiciary
Roland E. Logel - Public Service
William J. Flynn, Jr. - Private Practice
1970
Hon. Reid S. Moule - Judiciary
Owen B. Augspurger - Public Service (Posthumous)
Eugene M. Downey - Private Practice
1969
Hon. Matthew J. Jasen - Judiciary
Manly Fleischmann - Public Service
Lawrence J. Schork - Private Practice (Posthumous)
1968
Hon. Burke I. Burke - Judiciary (Posthumous)
Elmer R. Weil - Public Service
Frank J. Raichle, Jr. - Private Practice
1967
Hon. Philip Weiss - Judiciary (Posthumous)
Edwin F. Jaeckle - Public Service
Charles J. McDonough - Private Practice
1966
Hon. Alger Williams - Judiciary
Hon. Frank Moore - Public Service
David Diamond - Private Practice
1965
Sidney F. Pfeifer - Private Practice
1964
Hon. Philip Halpern - Judiciary
Elmer S. Stengel - Public Service
G. Sidney Shane - Private Practice
1963
Hon. Charles S. Desmond - Judiciary
John Lord O’Brian - Public Service
Harry J. Kelly - Private Practice