THREE STRONG WOMEN ELINOR ROTH CATSMAN, ELLEN FREIDIN AND ALLISON FREIDIN
One Amazing Family
By Catharine Skipp The movie of Elinor Roth Catsman’s life would feel like a 1930s rom-com: handsome law student woos beautiful blonde co-ed. In the next scene, the couple is waking up a Justice of the Peace at midnight; there is a funny moment when the groom realizes he has forgotten the ring. Then comes a scene at the Western Union Office: she has turned 21 at the stroke of twelve and the couple are sending telegraphs to their parents, “WE ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT IN COLDWATER STOP SIGNED MR AND MRS DAVID CATSMAN STOP.” What follows is a whirlwind: fleeing the depression in the Midwest, Elinor finishing her degree at “Cardboard College” (UM’s moniker)—her photo in The Miami Herald as the only married woman in the class of 1936, a few years teaching elementary school while David begins his law practice. World War II
intrudes, her husband is drafted. Post-war and back in Miami, David would play golf; the two share a love of dancing. The only trouble in their marriage was he liked slow dances and “I liked them fast,” she said. They would raise two girls: Ellen, then Julie. Ellen would come to Miami Law and give birth to a daughter, Allison, who would do the same. Ellen previously worked in politics until realizing law was a better fit. “I had always wanted to make this world a better place and I realized that law would be a great vehicle for me to do that,” she said. She worked to integrate women fully into the boy’s club of law. “There were very few women practicing and all of us had a pretty hard time with discrimination,” she said. She chaired the Florida Bar’s Special Committee for Gender Equality, “not only for women lawyers, but for witnesses
LEGACY
Alumni and courtroom personnel.” The result was many policy changes that paved a smoother path for women in the law. She was successful in adding language to the Florida Constitution creating equal rights for women and outlawing gerrymandering. Allison graduated from Miami Law in 2010 and is a criminal prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office. She mostly handles child sexual battery and narcotics trafficking. “Miami Law was an easy decision for me,” Allison said. “Both my parents are attorneys, my grandfather was an attorney. I honestly think UM is one of the best law schools.” Also was the advantage of staying close to family. “My grandmother is by far the strongest female role model. Her ties to the law schools and to the Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS) really shaped my decision to be a lawyer and go to Miami Law.” Even though neither David nor Elinor attended Miami Law, Elinor’s backing, in David’s name, started them as founding allies of CEPS. “Elinor Catsman and her family have served as supporters and stalwart friends of the Center for nearly two decades,” said Professor Anthony V. Alfieri, director of CEPS. “Her unmatched generosity, kindness, and deep commitment to social justice have inspired scores of students and will leave an enduring legacy.” Retirement for Elinor and David was a growing passel of grandchildren, travel, golf, and dancing. Just days before David’s 85th birthday, he would play 18 holes of golf, then leave this world from the dance floor to the strains of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” one of their favorite cities. 45