[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF JACK McBRIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sorrow that I report to our 
colleagues the passing of an outstanding leader from my 20th 
Congressional District of New York.
  John Strong McBride was a superb, universally revered attorney, an 
outstanding public official and a genuine friend. His passing earlier 
this week at the all-too-young age of 64 is a genuine loss to our 
entire region of southeastern New York.
  Jack McBride was a lifelong resident of our region, having been born 
in Goshen, NY, on August 11, 1935. Following his graduation from 
Fordham University in 1955, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Marines. After 
his honorable discharge, he worked as a real estate agent for the New 
York Central Railroad. Deciding to pursue a career in law, Jack 
graduated from the New York Law School in 1960, and soon after his 
graduation and admission to the bar was appointed an Assistant District 
Attorney of Sullivan County, NY.
  John served for one term in the New York State Assembly Representing 
the 110. A.D., in the mid-1960's having been elected at the age of 29 
to a district which consisted of all of Sullivan County and parts of 
Orange and Ulster Counties. In our state legislature, Jack championed 
the interests of his district by bringing government closer to the 
people. Jack was widely hailed at the time as one of the most promising 
of our young state legislators, but unfortunately his Assembly District 
was redistricted out of existence after he had the opportunity of 
serving for only one term. Accordingly, Jack devoted his substantial 
energies to his law practice and to community service.
  During my own career in the New York State Assembly, Jack McBride was 
of invaluable support and service to me in helping me learn the 
workings of the State legislature process in Albany. Jack had the 
ability of making intricate issues and solutions understandable to the 
average taxpayer, and will always be remembered for his outstanding 
gift.
  Upon his passing earlier this week, one of his legal colleagues noted 
in the local press that Jack was especially skilled at making complex 
matters comprehensive to jurors. ``He was the personification of 
everything a lawyer would want to be,'' stated civil rights lawyer 
Robert N. Isseks. ``He was amazing in his ability to think on his feet, 
to articulate for his client's cause.''
  Jack who worked more than 37 years as a trial lawyer, served as past 
President of the Sullivan County Bar Association, as a member of the 
Middletown Elks; the Legal Aid Society of Orange County; the Orange Bar 
Association; the New York State Trial Lawyer's Association; and the 
American Bar Association. Jack was also an Associate Professor at the 
Sullivan County Community College.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite our colleagues to join with me in offering 
condolences to Jack McBride's family: To his widow, Peggy Spears 
McBride; his four children, Donna Marie Vascello of Raleigh-Durham, NC, 
John Jeffrey McBride of Las Vegas, NV, Jacqueline Elizabeth McBride of 
Goshen, NY, and Clay Patrick McBride of New York City; his four 
grandchildren, all of Raleigh-Durham; his brothers Frank and Edward, 
and his three stepchildren, Ralph, Alicia, and Melanie. We also extend 
our sympathies to the many young attorneys and students who emulated 
and were inspired by the leading example of John S. McBride.

                  Trial Lawyer John McBride Dies at 64

                          (By Michael Randall)

       Chester.--John S. McBride, 64, a longtime trial lawyer in 
     Orange County and a former state legislator, died yesterday 
     at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.
       McBride, a native of Goshen and a lifelong area resident, 
     also worked briefly in the 1950s as a real estate agent for 
     the New York Central Railroad System, and from 1961 to 1963 
     was an assistant district attorney for Sullivan County.
       McBride, who worked more than 37 years as a trial lawyer in 
     Orange County courts, was praised by fellow members of the 
     legal community yesterday.
       Lawyer Gary Greenwald said he was ``exceptionally 
     saddened'' by McBride's death.
       ``When I was a young attorney, he was a person to emulate 
     because of his skills in the courtroom,'' Greenwald said. 
     ``He was a superb attorney.''
       Middletown civil rights lawyer Robert N. Isseks, a 
     colleague of McBride's for 20 years, said McBride ``was there 
     for people. Not only was he a fine lawyer, he was also one of 
     the finest human beings I've ever known.''
       McBride was exceptionally skilled at grasping complex 
     issues and making them understandable to jurors, Isseks 
     added.
       ``He was the personification of everything a lawyer would 
     want to be,'' said Isseks. ``He was amazing in his ability to 
     think on his feet, to articulate for his client's cause.''
       For a few years in the 1960s, McBride served in the state 
     Assembly, representing the old 110th district that included 
     all of Sullivan County and parts of Orange and Ulster 
     counties.
       In political circles, he counted among his close friends 
     Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman, R-Greenville. McBride worked on 
     Gilman's early political campaigns, including Gilman's first 
     congressional campaign in 1972.
       ``The congressman is grieved to hear of his passing,'' said 
     Gilman's press secretary, Andrew Zarutskie. Gilman plans to 
     do a tribute to McBride on the floor of Congress today, 
     Zarutskie added.



     

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