George Farrell Jr., a cofounder of Farrell Fritz, died on Dec. 11. He was 93.
Farrell cofounded the firm in 1976. With a focus on general business law, Farrell was active in the business and banking communities not only on Long Island but also the New York metropolitan region. He represented major corporations, banking institutions and business enterprises.
Farrell had also served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1974, and as a mayor of the Village of Floral Park from 1963 to 1965.
Farrell believed in pro bono work, community engagement and a positive firm culture. Those who worked with Farrell paid tribute to him on the firm’s website as “a gentleman whose character shaped the firm. He was dedicated to providing service to clients and to the community; these remain core values of the firm today.”
“George Farrell was a consummate gentleman lawyer,” Robert Creighton, managing partner of Farrell Fritz, said in a written statement. “He dedicated his professional life to providing service to our clients and our community. He lived as a true servant leader devoting his energy to the well-being of the community in which he lived. His values continue to inspire and drive our firm today. George had an incredibly positive impact on me and all of us who were blessed with the opportunity to work with him. He will be sorely missed, but his presence will live on in many of us for years to come.”
John Barnosky, partner and former managing partner share these memories.
“Growing up as a teenager in Floral Park, I have vivid memories of George Farrell handing out trophies at our sports dinners each and every year. These were the dinners where everyone got a trophy (i.e. ‘Best left-handed catcher born in November 1942),” Barnosky said in a written statement.
“George went on to become an assemblyman for the area,” Barnosky said. “It was a good time in Albany, where the highest trait of a legislator was considered more whether you could negotiate the vote of someone on the other side of the aisle to your cause, rather than how much you could humiliate him. Deals were negotiated on a handshake—and those deals were kept.
“Those same traits were the linchpin of George’s qualities as a lawyer,” Barnosky added. “Always a good listener, always willing to take the time, and always willing to spend the time to learn the facts. George made an impact and/or played a role in most of the large real estate transactions of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s in Nassau County and throughout the region. He was not only a great lawyer, but a wonderful mentor to new lawyers as they launched their careers. We will miss him, but his legacy remains in the fabric of the firm.”
Lisa Vaccaro, a partner at Farrell Fritz, offered this tribute.
“George was an incredible man,” she said in a written statement. “He welcomed me to the firm and welcomed me to my new family. Even during some very difficult personal times, I knew that he and the firm were behind me and supportive. We all learned a lot about humility, leadership, and positivity from George, and he will truly be missed.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge James Wicks, and a former partner at the firm, said in a written statement that “George is the very foundation of the firm’s culture. He was a true mentor, providing help, guidance and most importantly, opportunities for many of us, including me for which I am forever indebited. He perfectly embodied what a consummate lawyer should be: compassionate, caring and a trusted advisor to all in need. Like George Bailey in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ I’m certain he had no idea how many lives he impacted in a positive way.”
Adina Genn
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