Syracuse University College of Law Inmemoriam
Richard Elliott L’59
With the death of Richard Elliott L’59 on June 19, 2010, a tight knit Rochester law firm with strong College of Law connections lost one of its founding partners. Elliott was to have been honored by the Monroe County Bar Association on June 22nd for practicing law in the Rochester area for 50 years. In 1961, he founded Elliott, Stern and Calabrese LLP, with fellow College of Law graduates Herbert Stern L’59 and Richard Calabrese L’60. Their unusual partnership saw them practice law for decades without a formal written agreement. Elliott had always stressed that the implicit trust and friendship between them helped them to be so successful, said his family.
Each of the firm’s partners had a child attend the College of Law. Karen Elliott graduated in 1991 and worked for the law firm for a decade before moving to work in the legal field in Grand Cayman. David Stern, now a partner in the law firm, graduated in 1989. Chris Calabrese, also a partner, graduated in 1992. Karen said her father was thrilled when she decided to continue the Syracuse law school tradition.
Richard Elliott graduated from Niagara University and served as a Captain in Korea before coming to Syracuse. In law school he met fellow students and Rochesterians Herbert Stern and Richard Calabrese. “My whole life I heard my dad tell stories about law school,” Karen Elliott said. “He made wonderful friendships there… people he stayed in touch with for 50 years.” Elliott had an opportunity to revisit many of these friendships at his 50th College of Law reunion in the fall of 2009.
In addition to decades of legal work, Elliott also served as Irondequoit Town Judge from 1973-1978. He was a founding member of the Irondequoit Rotary Club and continued to give his time and support for decades thereafter. As a chairman of First National Bank of Rochester, he successfully aided in the bank’s turn around, leading to its eventual merger with M&T Bank.
Elliott is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lydia Elliott, children Mark Elliott, Karen Elliott and Andrea Elliott (Robert Ament) and two grandchildren.
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