Submitted by Fred on

50 Years

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Lifestyle

I was a fledgling 27 year old when I started with my firm.  I had just left the National Labor Relations Board on a Friday and reported to work the following Monday.

My boss was Martin C. Seham a larger than life Harvard Law School graduate who plucked me from obscurity and set me on an amazing miraculous career path.

One of the first things he urged me to do was grow a mustache so I would look more seasoned.

He was a role model and inspiration who opened the door for me and I found my way with his help and that of many others to become a Super Lawyer.  Not the least of whom was Dana Charlton who joined me within the first hectic years, editing, smoothing the way and suggesting ways for me to shine.  I could not have made it through without her assistance!

Dana is one of an important group of women who have eased the way to today.  First and foremost is my high school sweet heart Joanne and wife of 53 years who knows the good and bad of me best.

Others are my partners Joan Rothermel (gym mate too), Jane Jacobs (my successor as Managing Partner and all around techie) and Nancy Schess (my www.gothamnetworking.com co founder who also keeps me on the straight and narrow).

Of equal importance are Cathy Cargill, Pat Castrovinci and Rosa Abel our past and present Office Managers.

These women made me the man I am today and for that I am eternally grateful.

We celebrated my 50 years with the firm last Friday at my friend Ken Aretsky’s Patroon (pictured) and the “Fred Fete” exceeded my unreasonable expectations and made it all worthwhile.  Thanks again!

50 years! What’s next?

Comments

Corey Bearak

In context LPs released 50 years ago that matter to me (no particular order)
Abbey Road
Willy & The Poorboys
Green River
Pickin' Up The Pieces
Tommy
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin II
Let It Bleed
From Elvis in Memphis
Stand
Volunteers
The Band
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Bayou Country
Velvet Underground
Nashville Skyline
The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Yellow Submarine
The Doors The Soft Parade
The Chicago Transit Authority
Cream Goodbye
Space Oddity
Beck-Ola

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 11/21/2019 - 21:33

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Judy Mauer

A great Origin story - and you are amazing in your ability to connect and appreciate the women in your life :0)

Submitted by Steven_Lichtenstein on Thu, 11/21/2019 - 21:35

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Steven Lichtenstein

Congratulations Fred on your 50th Anniversary. Clearly you are a ground breaker in being a well grounded man who payed it forward by surrounding himself with intelligent and powerful women who will capably carry on your legacy.
Paul Napolitano

Great blog Fred. Where would we be without the great women in our lives? I shudder to think where I would be without Victoria.
Fred Klein

Forgot to mention my mother who always whispered “Be a good boy Freddy, be a good boy!” Thanks mom, I’ve tried!
ODEY RAVIV

Fantastic Fifty. Congratulations and beautiful words on the Important Women in your lives.


Shelley Simpson

Congratulations on 50 years of contribution and leading by example - being humble, open, grateful and giving credit where it's due. BTW, take a little for yourself for being a woke dude. What's next? I hope decades more of YOU!
Fred Klein

I knew instinctively from early on!
Daniel Schwartz

I bet the time has flown by. Quite a career indeed. I can't imagine the numbers you have helped or touched by all of your have accomplishments.
Kelly Welles

One of the key reasons I joined Gotham was your gift for family which extended beyond your home, astutely acknowledging and including others, a modern day Canterbury Tale with a purpose. Klein Zelman was pivotal it Gotham’s creation and even your Key West outpost at the Courthouse. May the magic continue in all the lives you have inspired.

Fred Klein

You are still another woman I rely upon and admire. Thank you for your vision!

Submitted by SoniaSaleh on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 02:33

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Sonia Saleh

How exciting and fulfilling! Imagine how great the next 50 will be! Thank you for appreciating the women in your life. Congratulations
Amparo Connors

Wonderful Blog Fred. Congratulations on 50 years at your firm and thank you for your leadership & friendship. The people in our lives are so critical to our success. Martin set you on a great path; impressive road paved by Women Power led by Joanne!
Dana Charlton

Thank you for your beautifully composed blog. As usual, over the past 49 years, you have made me think.
I am humbled and grateful that you consider me important in and to your life. Over these years, I realize that you have been the one constant, steady, and dependable person in mine. That might sound odd, but it's true. So without my getting emotional, let me say it has been an honor, privilege, and very special to have worked for you for 48 years and stayed connected even now. I know I was the luckiest secretary/assistant in the firm, and I coveted that role.
It was fabulous to help celebrate you last Friday. You are unlike anyone else I've known, and I am eternally grateful for you, too.

Submitted by NeilHollander on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 06:39

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Neil Hollander

At some point the question “What’s next ? “ converges on the existential . A subject for a later time . Cutting to the chase ..... Fifty years in any sense of the word is a milestone worth brainstorming. Career , marriage , friendship, fatherhood . Life itself . Fifty years ago my first child was born . Fifty years ago I was flying 4 engine jets across the Atlantic . How many years ago was it that you passed the Bar ? Spending 50 plus years with the same woman? It would have to be Joanne . Fifty years is the minimum credential that allows us entry into the “Afterlife .” That special era you coined . The place that Alfred E. Neumann described as “ What ? Me worry ?” We no longer march to the beat of any one else’s drum . Not that we ever did . We bang our own drum Derf . This is our reward . Congratulations my friend . You did it the hard way . You earned it .

Hollander sends
Fred Klein

Interesting that you mention the Bar. Failing it spurred me on to blazing ambition!

Submitted by NeilHollander on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 07:04

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Neil Hollander

That’s why I mentioned it

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