Tiburon resident (and SF attorney) John Hullverson recently saved a drowning boy from a pool in Roatan, Honduras. The boy was lifted from the bottom of the pool, blue and lifeless. Recently recertified as an EMT, John administered rescue breathing as the boy’s terrified mother watched. The boy finally responded at the scene and was rushed by makeshift ambulance over winding roads to a nearby hospital, where he fully recovered without brain damage. The dramatic story was covered by the Marin IJ on August 1, complete with photo of John, relieved mother, and beaming 9-year old boy.

David Brown has retired after 35 years with the Marin County Public Defender’s office. “One of the most respected and well-liked attorneys around,” as a news story put it. David, a past MCBA board member, is setting up a private criminal defense shop.

Everybody who was anybody (almost) attended the annual Marin Trial Lawyers dinner on September 9, including Verna Adams, who was declared Judge of the Year. Chris Dolan took home the Trial Lawyer of the Year trophy. He didn’t have far to carry it, however, as the event was held at his elegant estate in San Rafael. Larry Strick added Marin Trial Lawyer President’s Award to his trophy shelf, barely edging out Legal Aid of Marin attorney Ann Munene for that honor.

The MCBA has announced it will give its second-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to retired judge (and past MCBA board member) Michael Dufficy. (The first recipient was retired judge Richard Breiner). The presentation ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 26, at Jason’s Restaurant in Greenbrae, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Inquire about tribute ads, sponsorships, and tickets, please contact Karen Howard at email.

Judge Beverly Wood earned a huge (and well-deserved) statewide honor as “Judicial Officer of the Year” from the Chief Probation Officers of California, in large part due to her innovative and dedicated work for the Marin Community Court.

And to whom did the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the State Bar recently award its prestigious “Family Law Employee of the Year?” Why, to none other than our very own Alexandria Quam! Ali is the Marin court’s Family Law Facilitator, Director of Family Court Services, and Director of Legal Self-Help Services.

At their September meeting, the county Board of Supervisors honored senior deputy public defender Pedro Oliveros as Employee of the Month. If tradition holds, you will see a placard with Pedro’s name and face prominently displayed in the Civic Center cafeteria throughout the month. Enjoy your coffee!

News and More

Musical chairs at Legal Aid of Marin? Newly appointed (April 2016) Executive Director David Snyder has announced his retirement. David and wife Judy are moving to Kentucky to be closer to their family, which will soon include their first grandchild. The search is on at LAM for a replacement. In the meantime, interim ED Karen Deshayes will hold down the fort. Stay tuned to The Gossip for news as it happens.

Diversity Section co-chair Francesca Chang is moving to Taipei, Taiwan. For more details and why this story is sad for the MCBA, read Jim Sell's profile of Francesca in this edition of The Marin Lawyer.

Former MCBA director and officer Carolyn Rosenblatt has expanded her elder law consulting and mediation practice by adding AgingInvestor.com, an educational resource for financial professionals with aging clients. Her second book on the topic, Hidden Secrets About Retirement and Long Term Care: The Financial Advisors’ Guide, is on its way to press.

For reasons unclear, family law specialist Peggy Bennington has begun bicycling from Anacortes, WA to Ventura, CA, about 1,200 miles as the crow flies. Of course, if the crow has to pedal a bicycle uphill in the rain, it seems much farther.

Along those same lines, if you haven’t seen former MCBA president Randy Wallace recently, it’s not your eyes. Randy spent nearly all of the past five months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, covering well over 1,200 miles. Ask him for the Top Ten lessons learned. Number 7 is, “It’s not lost, you just can’t find it.” San Rafael lawyer Mike Vasquez joined Randy for the last segment of the trek.

The Marin bar is home to many accomplished musicians, among them real estate attorney and mediator Phil Diamond. Phil, a flutist, fronts Diamond Jazz, which performs often at the Fenix and elsewhere. Appellate lawyer Elliot Bien continues his musical adventures on the clarinet. His klezmer band (Klezmer Soul), has a gig on October 5 at the Redwoods in Mill Valley. And deputy county counsel Steve Perl is doing double duty with quartet With Relish (Civic Center October 25) and the Marin Golden Gate Barbershop Chorus (Showcase Theater November 19).

Who else tickles ivory, or blows horns, or belts with gusto? Let us know.

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Send your news items (achievements, new jobs, performances, awards, whatever), to mwhite@montywhitelaw.com. All submissions cheerfully considered.

Sidenote: If you can’t wait until the next edition of the Marin Lawyer for the latest news and gossip about the Bar and its people, follow MCBA on Facebook.