Firm Begins a New Tradition

NEW JERSEY LAWYER, January 1, 2001: At some law firms, tradition remains as time-honored as ever.

And that was evident recently at Connell Foley LLP. It's rare for a firm to remember one if its attorneys the way the Roseland firm has paid homage to the late John A. Pindar.

For each of the past 30 years - and again this year - the firm began its annual holiday observance by attending a Mass memorializing Pindar, who died in a 1969 car accident at age 47.

As partner George W. Connell noted at the ceremonies, Pindar at the time "was one of the most well-regarded litigators in the state."

The Mass was held at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Roseland.

Afterward, a new tradition was added to the annual ceremonies when the firm's four new associates were sworn in as part of the occasion marking Pindar's career and his impact on the firm. And that, too, had a sentimental twist. Administering the oaths were two judges who formerly were partners at the firm, Superior Court Judge Karen M. Cassidy and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Raymond T. Lyons.

The new associates are Gregory E. Peterson, Agnes Antonian, Gauri Paul and Bryan P. Couch.