WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: I only had the honor of personally meeting Buffalo Labor Attorney Richard Lipsitz, Sr. a few years back after the conclusion of a Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) Annual Meeting.  At that time, I was asked to take a photo of Mr. Lipsitz, who was joined by retired Buffalo Area Labor Leader Dan Boody, Mark Pearce - a former Labor Attorney with the Lipsitz Green Law Firm in Buffalo who went on to become a Board Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C. (pictured below, both standing to his right) and two other Labor Representatives from the Painters’ Union - which is featured within this Labor News Story.  With such an amazing, successful and storied career standing up and battling for everyday Working People, WNYLaborToday.com thought it would be appropriate to reach out to those who best knew Mr. Lipsitz – including his two sons: Current WNYALF President Richard Lipsitz; and John Lipsitz, a founding partner in the Buffalo Law Firm of Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC, so they could tell Your On-Line Labor Newspapers’ readers not only who Richard Lipsitz, Sr. was, but what he meant to the Local Labor Community and the overall impact that he had.

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - Described as more than a legal heavyweight in the Labor field, an early supporter of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s and a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War in his obituary that was published in The Buffalo News upon his recent passing, 97-year-old Buffalo Attorney Richard Lipsitz, Sr. is being remembered by many in Organized Labor as a fearless champion of Workers, a relentless advocate for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and a man who used his awesome power only for good.

In recent days, WNYLaborToday.com spoke to several within the Buffalo/Western New York Labor Community who knew Richard Lipsitz, Sr. - as well as those who enlisted his legal expertise to help their Unions and their Members.  In the end, their words helped illustrate his extraordinary life and the results he brought about - which will never be forgotten:

John Lipsitz, son of Mr. Lipsitz and a foundering Partner of the Buffalo Law Firm - Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC, which represents Workers suffering from industrial diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma: He had empathy for Working People.  He leaves a legacy through his professional career and his commitment to the Labor Movement and to certain Constitutional values (including) the First Amendment.  They were not separable.  He aligned himself with people who were being marginalized and brought power to those who were being challenged (by companies and their management).  He pushed the other way.  (Growing up while his father worked in the NLRB Office in Buffalo) There were a lot of Union People who came to our house - Union Officials, Business Agents - and others, Social Activists.  At the time, I had no sense who they were.  He represented Non-Industrial and Government Workers and Unions.  He represented the Buffalo Newspaper Guild.  He found them interesting and challenging.  He was a First Amendment guy and he was a very committed.  I was inspired by that.  He came off the ‘Red Scare’ in the United States and he was ‘never a Member of the Communist Party.’  (John Lipsitz said some of his father’s clients caught the ire of some who threatened he and his family) He never got scared.  It was a badge of honor (being targeted) by the John Birch Society.  He also had a very solid mind - he could write a brief in one sitting.  It was perfect.”

Richard Lipsitz, son of Mr. Lipsitz - a Teamsters Representative who currently serves as President of the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF): He was a father who didn’t neglect his family for his career.  He suggested (after Richard had decided not to pursue a career as an attorney) in front-line representation and I took his advice.  He was always a kind, thoughtful counsel, but he was kind and tough at the same time.  He was an honorable man and a fair-minded person.  The legacy he leaves behind are the Labor Attorneys who put the interests of their clients both front and center, that put Working People front and center.  In fact, the last arbitration he did was for the United Food and Commercial Workers and he did that pro bono.  We just lost our mother a few months ago and I wish we had him for (at least) a couple of years more.

Pictured Above: WNYALF President Richard Lipsitz (on the left), with his father - the late Richard Lipsitz, Sr. (in the middle) and brother, John (on the right) - Photo Courtesy of the Richard Lipsitz Family

Nan Haynes, Mr. Lipsitz's daughter - a United University Professions (UUP) Union Member who taught Law at the University of Buffalo: He was principled and he fought for principles.  He did what was right because it was right.  And he had a commitment to fairness - he was very fair.  He bucked he prevailing stereotype of what an attorney is.  I'm an attorney too and attorneys are supposed to be the good guy.  He wanted to provide protection to those who needed protection.  I got into Civil Rights and I got that from him.     

Retired Labor Leader Dan Boody - the former Business Manager of the International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 4, the former President of the Buffalo Building & Construction Trades Council and the first President of the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Council: It was about fifteen years ago when, as Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Painters District Council 4, I requested Attorney Richard Lipsitz to attend an arbitration hearing to represent one of my Members in an unemployment case.  Sitting there during the hearing, Lipsitz kept interjecting to the Hearing Officer to stop badgering his witness.  The Hearing Officer said: If you don’t stop interfering with my questioning, I’ll call for a Security Guard to have you removed.  Lipsitz, sitting there so confident and peaceful, told the Hearing Officer: Go ahead and make that call.  I’m there watching and listening and thinking - WOW!  And it didn’t stop there.  Lipsitz continued to speak up for my Member.  The Hearing Officer did make that call for the Security Guard.  Calmly, Lipsitz continued to sit there with full confidence knowing his job was to represent and protect my Member.  When the Security Guard entered the room, the Hearing Officer backed down and instructed the Guard that it wouldn’t be necessary to remove him.  Again - WOW!  Richard Lipsitz was an absolute legend in terms of his sincerity to represent and protect his clients.  I’m very proud knowing my Member and my Union were in safe hands.  Painters District Council 4 has retained the Lipsitz Law Firm since the 1960s and proudly continues to this day.

Mark Gaston Pearce, former Labor Attorney with the Lipsitz Green Law Firm and a current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Board Member in Washington, D.C. (Pictured below with Mr. Lipsitz/Photo Courtesy of Mark Pearce): I first met Dick Lipsitz when I was just getting started with the NLRB, at its Buffalo Regional Office.  He was and had been for the entirety of his storied career, the foremost Labor Side Practitioner in the area.  Also, he had the reputation for not suffering fools.  Yes, this very mature man with his wrinkled jacket and signature tweed bucket hat could be quite the intimidating figure to many an opponent, much less a freshman attorney who failed to get to the point - quickly.  I later joined his firm and got to know this legend as a man, a teacher and a friend.  Practically everything this man did was legendary.  I remember telling a client about an occasion when Dick was on his way to an arbitration.  His car went off the road and turned over into a ditch.  Luckily, Dick was not hurt.  He flagged down the arbitrator, who happened to be driving by.  The arbitrator said he would gladly postpone the hearing, as Dick needed to get himself checked out and his car sorted.  Dick reportedly replied: Nonsense.  Please take me to the hearing.  This is discharge arbitration and I want to get this Employee back to work!  Well, the client listened to my tale without blinking an eye, then simply replied: “That’s ‘nothing.’  Dick once represented one of my discharged Members at an arbitration.  He ‘litigated the whole damn hearing while lying flat on a table, because he threw out his back that morning - and yes, he won the case!’”  When I reflect on the passing of Richard Lipsitz, Esquire, I think about the giant hole left in the community, the world and in our hearts by this giant of a man.  In Star Wars parlance, this leaves a major disruption in the force.  And Dick was that force - that fearless champion of the Worker - that relentless advocate for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.  That man who used his awesome power only for good, will truly be missed.  Rest in Peace my friend.

Retired Labor Leader Tom Hopkins – Retired International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17 President and Business Manager, from 1991 through 1998, said: When I started out, Lipsitz had been working with my Union since 1951 (Hopkins’ father was the first Business Manager at Local 17 at the time).  I had him represent us because my father had him for years and I knew what he could do.  He always impressed me because he believed in what he did and what he tried to do for Working People.  He put us on a right track and I believe he was the best Labor Lawyer in the eastern part of this country.  He was also an old friend and mentor to me.  He was always there for you - all the time.  He helped me find some interns (for Local 17) and he later hired some of them after they completed law school.  He had such a heart for Working People.  He was a lawyer who felt the same way about Working People that (Labor Unions did).

A statement from the Buffalo Law Firm of Lipsitz Green Scime & Cambria:

Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria mourns the loss of one of its founding Partners, Richard Lipsitz, Sr., who passed away on May 18th, 2018 at the age of 97. 

Over his 50 year-long legal career, Mr. Lipsitz was justly lauded for his brilliant mind and dedication to his clients.  

He was a lion in the Labor Field and was regarded his entire career as the Dean of Labor Lawyers, devoted to the representation of Workers and the advancement of their rights.  

Richard Lipsitz was kind and generous personally.  

He was an incisive, relentless advocate for and guardian of Peoples’ Rights.

Throughout his practice, Mr. Lipsitz represented dozens of Local and International Labor Unions, earning the reputation as a legend in the field of Labor Law.   

He appeared for clients in various arenas, including successfully arguing in front of the United States Supreme Court to protect academic freedom under the First Amendment.  

He served both as counsel to and President of the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ).

Mr. Lipsitz also received several honors, including those of the New York Civil Liberties Union in 1988, the Industrial Relations Research Association in 1997, the American Arbitration Association in 1989, and various Labor Union Awards.

In 2003, the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council honored Mr. Lipsitz with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Lipsitz, along with five other attorneys, co-founded the firm - that is now Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria - in 1965.  Although Mr. Lipsitz formally retired in 1992, he maintained a steady client base and continued to work until his final arbitration at the age of 90.

The firm is devoted to continuing his work in all aspects of the representation of Working People.

In addition to being regarded as a skilled attorney, Mr. Lipsitz was widely respected for his commitment to his community.

He was a devoted patron of the arts and, together with his late wife - Rita, supported cultural organizations such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera.

His passing is a loss to the firm, the profession and the community.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: The Lipsitz Family announced there will be a memorial service held on June 15th in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo.  For More On The Life Of Richard Liptsitz, Sr., Read The Buffalo News’ Obituary, Headlined: Richard Lipsitz Sr., Founder Of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, Dies At 97 At http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/20/richard-lipsitz-sr-founder-of-lipsitz-green-cambria-and-scime-dies-at-97/