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FEATURE ARTICLE MARIA P. ALAIMO AND ANDREA BELLAIRE, MOODY CLASS, 1996
DAWN BEACHNAU Cooley Law School lost a member of the family in 2013 with the passing of Dawn Beachnau, the school’s longtime administrator to the Law Review. Beachnau, 75, passed away July 12, 2013, following a short illness. She had been on staff with Cooley for 36 years. Beachnau considered Marie Wolfe (McDonald Class, 1998) as one of her “adopted Cooley Law Review children.” Wolfe, who served as Editor in Chief of the Law Review during her tenure at Cooley, came to know Beachnau well over the years. Over time, Wolfe said, that friendship grew. “She was my best friend,” Wolfe said. “We are all better for having known her.” “She was the ‘go-to’ person,” Wolfe recalled. “She knew how to find resources in the school, and knew who to guide you to.” For students finding their way through the labyrinth of law review publishing, Beachnau’s skills and people knowledge were invaluable. “She had the business connections,” Wolfe said. “She knew about price breaks in publishing and who to call if there was a glitch. She was very well respected.” For decades, Beachnau kept the Law Review humming along, keeping students on track, making the transitions seamless for the revolving teams of students moving through the Law Review, and assisting new faculty advisers as they came on board. The most recent faculty adviser, Professor Brad Charles, said Beachnau was like a CEO of a small business.
Charles said that Beachnau was more than an administrator. “She was a mentor. Her great kindness is motivation for us to be a bit softer, patient, and understanding.” Charles added that Beachnau’s outlook on life and people taught him much. “She was a wise leader. She gave students time to learn and develop. Many times I wanted to kick someone off the Review, but she taught me the broader goal of teaching students life goals about management and professionalism.” She is remembered for being an oasis of calm in what could be an intense, deadline-driven environment. “She had seen and heard it all,” Wolfe recalled of Beachnau. “Nothing was going to surprise her!” Beachnau connected with students, cared about them, and looked after them – and they remembered that kindness. Scott Hughes (Chipman Class, 2011), served as Articles Editor of the Law Review during his time at Cooley. He remembers her fondly. “Dawn’s involvement with the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review extended far beyond administration. Dawn devoted herself, not just to the publication, but also to the people involved with the organization. I believe that it was her genuine care for people that motivated Dawn to continue serving on the law review year after year. Hughes added, “When I remember Dawn, my mind almost always returns to the same memory, a heartfelt hug and some shared tears in saying our goodbyes just before my graduation. Dawn left me that day with a few special words that I still hold dear to my heart.” Wolfe stayed in close touch with Beachnau after graduation. “We frequently had lunch.” When Beachnau couldn’t get away from the office, Wolfe would often pick up something to eat and they would dine right in the Law Review office. Many students stayed in touch, Wolfe said, just as Beachnau did with her former students. “She would often send cards to people, thanking them for being part of her life.” Beachnau was known for her direct communication as well, and Wolfe remembered many a conversation that started out with, “Now let me tell you a story,” or, “This is how it’s going to be.” Once a part of Beachnau’s life, students and everyone she worked with tended to stay that way, Wolfe said. “People were drawn to her. She really reached out.” Wolfe remembered Beachnau reaching out to the family of a Cooley student who passed away shortly before her graduation. Wolfe said she still hears from the family about how much that contact meant to them. “There are tons of those stories,” she said. “Very clearly, she was loved. She was always helping people and I’m a better person for having known her,” Wolfe said. Beachnau was a longtime member of the Lansing Legal Secretaries Association, was named Legal Secretary of the Year in 1982, and won several awards for her contributions to Cooley Law School and the Law Review. She is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Beachnau, her son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Linda Beachnau, and her grandsons, Ryan J. and Blake T. Beachnau. BENCHMARK COLUMN | JULY 2014 | VOLUME 6 | NUMBER 1
A M O N G TO RTS A N D B R I E FS, A N
ENDURING FRIENDSHIP A chance encounter at orientation sets the stage for a lifelong bond between two New Yorkers NEW CAREERS, LIVES
When Queens, New York native Maria Pia Alaimo (Moody Class, 1996) arrived at orientation in September 1993, she was excited to learn of a Cooley Law School classmate, Andrea Bellaire (Moody Class, 1996), a Brooklyn native. As the two New Yorkers struck up a conversation, it was clear they had more to discuss and soon dinner plans were underway. Maria and Andrea conversed about everything from the similarities of their close-knit families to their legal career dreams. They also discovered both attended the same college for their undergraduate degrees and laughed about their “horrible New York accents,” recalled Maria. The dinner also set the stage for a 15-plus-year friendship, which has endured the rigors of law school, rewarding legal careers and the highs and lows of their personal lives. FOCUS ON STUDIES
Among the duo’s commonalities during law school was a dedication to extensive studying. The two recall spending countless hours together preparing for exams. “We were both very, very studious,” said Maria. “I worked my whole life for this (education) and I was not going to mess it up.” Andrea described their penchant for hitting the books another way: “We were nerds.” From camping out at the library, to discussing legal issues in nearby coffee shops, Andrea and Maria were attached at the hip with their studies. “We’re of the same ilk; we very much wanted to do well,” added Andrea.
Maria could never have imagined the extent of that bond as she did during her final semester of law school. In the midst of finals, Maria received the shocking news of her father’s death. “It was absolutely the saddest time of my life and she (Andrea) was there.” Maria also credited her extended Cooley “family,” including her professors and classmates, with helping her through the loss. The support made a difference, with both Maria and Andrea passing their finals. They graduated in May 1996, and both passed the New York bar a few months later.
“I love it,” she said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to work here.” When Andrea is not at work, she and her husband, Tim, relish a simple life, void of cars, cell phones, internet or cable. “We like to be out and about, going for runs, enjoying all the free Smithsonian museums, and other great activities in D.C.,” she said. Maria has also experienced great career success. After working in a large law firm in Manhattan, she decided to open her own firm in her childhood neighborhood of Astoria, N.Y. “I wanted to give back to my community,” she said. Maria has been operating Maria P. Alaimo, P.C., ever since, handling issues relevant to her surrounding community, including worker’s compensation cases and wills/estate needs. Maria felt strongly that she wanted to use her lawyering skills to help people in the close, immigrant community she holds dearly. “I wanted to advocate for them; to give representation to such hard-working people.”
With nearly 700 miles separating the young women from their families, the friendship between Maria and Andrea strengthened with each passing academic year at Cooley. The distance from Lansing to their native New York homes was too far to travel for weekend visits, so the women often celebrated holidays together in Lansing. With their similar backgrounds, childhood experiences and strong career and family aspirations, their bond felt like family. TIES THAT BIND
While Maria had designs on returning to her hometown to practice, Andrea’s career goal of working for the U.S. government eventually landed her in the nation’s capital. Andrea spent four years with the U.S. Department of Justice, and then switched positions. She recently celebrated her 11th year with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as senior counsel with the SEC’s Enforcement Division.
PARALLELING PHILANTHROPY
While the women’s personal and professional lives differ, they both feel strongly about helping others. Andrea and her husband volunteer for Honor Flight, an organization which helps World War II vets tour war memorials and related attractions in Washington, D.C. Andrea is also using her expertise to begin an “age-in-place” initiative in her community. Maria also finds time to stay in touch with her alma mater, traveling to Michigan on occasion to visit with Cooley professors and friends with whom she has remained close, including former Director of Admissions Stephanie Gregg. “From the moment we met, I felt like an adopted daughter,” Maria said. “It was really humbling (at Cooley). I met some really good people who helped me mourn my father … who were with me during such a difficult time.” Despite their busy schedules, Maria and Andrea always find time to connect, visiting each other at least once a year. “It’s a little harder now, but we wouldn’t miss the chance,” said Andrea. “Maria is truly a great, lifelong friend.”
5 MINUTES WITH: MARIA P. ALAIMO On Your Bookshelf: Tuesdays with Morrie. Sometimes in life we need to reconnect with our inner-self, get grounded again, and be humbled. I give this book to my estate clients as it really focuses on appreciation of life and dealing with loss. Hobbies: Exercising and playing the piano with my son. On Your IPad/favorite Music: Michael Buble
Most Influential Person: My dad, Angelo, who died while I was completing my final semester of law school. He was an Italian immigrant who left Italy with my Mom and their three kids at the age of 42 and made a whole new life in New York (including having me as their 4th child). He taught me to “look forward in life and never turn back.” Greatest Cooley Memory: Working as a Student
Admissions Counselor under Stephanie Gregg. I enjoyed working in the office, which was my Michigan family. It was also great greeting the new faces of Cooley students and bestowing upon them the lessons you learned. Biggest Career Break: You make your own breaks in life, which, for me, was starting my own private practice. This gave me the ability and liberty to expand my areas of practice.
5 MINUTES WITH: ANDREA BELLAIRE On Your Bookshelf: I have hundreds of books. My favorites include: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand; Long Walk to Freedom; by Nelson Mandela, and Beethoven The Man Revealed by John Suchet.
Hobbies: Reading, running, learning to speak Spanish and volunteering. On Your IPad/favorite Music: Keb Bo, Chopin, Taylor Swift, Pink Most Influential Person: My grandfather
Greatest Cooley Memory: Celebrating Thanksgiving with Maria and other friends in Michigan, and winning an award for drafting a motion in Professor John Nussbaumer’s Criminal Procedure class.