Maryann Saccomando Freedman ’58

Maryann Freedman.

Maryann Saccomando Freedman ’58 was the first female president of the Bar Association of Erie County, the first female president of the New York State Bar Association and a former president of the New York State Bar Foundation. She is a role model and mentor for female attorneys in Buffalo.

About this Interview

Interview Date(s)

May 3, 2007

Occasion

Approaching her 50th reunion

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About Maryann Saccomando Freedman

Maryann Freedman is a trailblazing Buffalo woman lawyer who has served in top legal leadership positions. Freedman said she loves being a lawyer, loves the law and loves her colleagues. Starting law school in 1955 with seven women in her class, she was one of only three women to graduate in 1958 in a class of about 100.

She remembers there were 13 women among the three classes in the law school—and only one ladies’ room, with one stall. “They had to raise the money to expand the ladies’ room to two stalls. That says something about what was happening with women in the late ’50s!”

Freedman believes that with a few exceptions, most of the faculty were open to women becoming legal professionals, especially Dean Jacob Hyman. She also remembers Professor Arthur Lenhoff as an outstanding and unique teacher of torts.

Particularly memorable were the study groups and the interaction among all three classes. She took a tutorial on the use of behavioral sciences in law, in trials in particular. Brown v. Board of Education had just been decided, and among its distinguishing features was the use of behavioral scientific evidence. Her tutorial project focused on how those sociological and psychological studies were used as evidence in getting to the decision.

Her areas of practice include arbitration, estates and trusts law, matrimonial and family law, and mediation.

Professional Associations:

  • 1995-present: Cohen & Lombardo, P.C., of counsel
  • 1993-1995: Freedman & Freedman, partner
  • 1991-1995: Lavin & Kleiman, special counsel
  • 1977-1990: New York State Supreme Court confidential law clerk to Justice William J. Ostrowski. Matrimonial referee (1980-1990); hearing referee
  • 1975-1977: New York State Department of Law, assistant attorney general
  • 1972-1975: Buffalo City Court, confidential legal research assistant
  • 1961-1975: Freedman & Freedman, partner
  • 1959-1961: Saperston, McNaughton & Saperston, associate
  • 1957-1959: Saperston, McNaughton & Saperston, law clerk

Explore the Class of 1958

  • Hon. Michael A. Amico ’58
    4/6/26
    Michael A. Amico ’58 was a prominent alumnus who had a long and successful career in law enforcement. He was sheriff of Erie County from 1970-1977.
  • Anthony J. Colucci, Jr. ’58
    4/6/26
    Anthony J. Colucci Jr. ’58 practiced law for decades in Western New York, where he was active in the civic and cultural life of the City of Buffalo and believed in giving back.
  • Maryann Saccomando Freedman ’58
    4/6/26
    Maryann Saccomando Freedman ’58 was the first female president of the Bar Association of Erie County, the first female president of the New York State Bar Association and a former president of the New York State Bar Foundation. She is a role model and mentor for female attorneys in Buffalo.