BCBA ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE by Rebecca A. Fleming
On November 19, 2015, the Baltimore County Bar Association held its Annual Memorial and Recognition Ceremony to honor those members who passed away since November 2014. The service was well attended by the family and friends of the fifteen members who were honored; Gary D. Schenker, C. Daniel Held, William J. Blondell, Jr., H. Thomas Howell, John L. Calhoun, Thaddeus J. Hense, Lynn C. Golberg, John E. Raine III, Frederick Steinmann, Fannie Angelos, William Leon Kirk, J. Michael Recher, John Wilmer Conrad, III, Emily Miller Rody, Magistrate Jacqueline E. Dawson.
married, Master Wendy Schenker. After twentythree (23) years in the State’s Attorney’s Office, Gary retired from that office and became a Public Defender. Over his forty year career, he was a mentor to many young attorneys, including his son. Harry Blondell then spoke on behalf of his father, William J. Blondell, Jr. The first thing that Harry said about his father is that he would not have expected to be honored in this way, as he would much rather that everyone gather for a big party and have a cold beer. Mr. Blondell was a litigator who would take his client’s problems and make them his own. He was married for fifty-six years and had three children. Amazing everyone, he lived four and a half years after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer and actually continued working until eleven months prior to his death. Harry spoke of his father holding himself to a high standard. He hopes that he can live up the same high standards that his father set for himself.
The main bench included Judges Cox, Stringer and Williams. The balance of the Circuit Court Bench were seated in the jury box. They were joined by District Court Judges, Masters and retired judges. The Honorable Kathleen Cox offered the opening remarks on behalf of the judges of the Circuit and District Courts for Baltimore County. Judge Cox addressed those gathered, noting that the Annual Memorial Ceremony is a moving occasion that is unique to Baltimore County and introduced The Honorable Alexandra N. Williams, who offered the invocation. Judge Cox then introduced the Chair of the Memorial Committee, The Honorable Judith C. Ensor. Judge Ensor greeted the assembled, and then introduced the first speaker.
Bill Gately was then called upon to remember H. Thomas Howell. Known to his friends as Tom, Mr. Howell was a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather. He was also a world class geneaologist. He wrote, compiled and published more than a dozen massive family genealogical histories which have been indexed and catalogued in the Library of Congress. A
Robert Schenker spoke on behalf of the friends and family of his father, Gary Schenker. Gary began his law career as a law clerk in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. He handled a wide variety of cases there and eventually became a trial team captain, and earned his nickname “Captain Gary.” While a young attorney he met and THE ADVOCATE
Continued on page 13
Page 12
February 2016