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Frank Seddio sworn in as 101st president of Brooklyn Bar Association

June 10, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Hon. Frank Seddio was sworn in as the 101st president of the Brooklyn Bar Association by Justice Lara Genovesi at the Kings County Supreme Court on Thursday night. Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo
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The Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA) swore in its newest officers and trustees, including its newest president, Hon. Frank Seddio, during an installation ceremony in the central jury room of the Kings County Supreme Court on Thursday.

“Tonight, I’m so pleased to be at this induction of Brooklyn’s own Frank Seddio as the 101st president of our Brooklyn Bar Association,” said Hon. Lawrence Knipel, administrative judge of the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. “Frank has been everything — policeman, community board chair, practicing lawyer, legislature, judge, political leader and now bar association president. In Hollywood, they would call him the hardest working man in show business.”

The event was well attended by local judges and politicians, including Councilmembers Vincent Gentile, Stephen Levin, Mathieu Eugene and David Greenfield, as well as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. The ceremony was run by Arthur Aidala, immediate past president of the BBA. Past President Hon. Barry Kamins and Hon. Knipel spoke briefly. Past President Ethan B. Gerber and Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix gave more formal remarks, and Hon. Lara Genovesi also spoke before swearing in the new officers and trustees.

The new BBA trustees include Elaine N. Avery, David J. Hernandez, Adam Kalish, Richard Klass, Deborah Lashley, Joseph S. Rosato and Pauline Yeung. The new officers include Aimee L. Richter, president elect; David M. Chidekel, first vice president; Frank V. Carone, second vice president; Anthony J. Lamberti, secretary; and Armena D. Gayle, treasurer.

Before officially inducting Seddio in as president, Judge Kamins spoke about Aidala, the outgoing president and his law partner.

“Congratulations to Arthur for an amazing year as president,” Kamins said. “Transformative is the word that comes to mind when thinking about Arthur’s presidency. From the trip to Cuba to the modernization of the boardroom to bringing in Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, we’ve witnessed a year like no other, and I want to congratulate you.”

Aidala, who referred to Seddio as his co-president, shared some simple advice for the new president: “Always ask Avery,” he said referring to the BBA’s Executive Director Avery Eli Okin.

Past President Gerber also had many kind things to say about Aidala’s tenure as president. In fact, he admitted that Aidala did everything better than he did, save for the fact that it was Gerber who talked Seddio into taking a position on the executive board.

Justice Hinds-Radix spoke about what an amazing mentor Seddio is to her own daughter and made a special point to thank Seddio’s wife, Joyce Becker for, “loaning him to us.” She also shared what she felt makes Seddio such an effective leader.

“He’s a consensus builder,” Hinds-Radix said. “He gets people to come together and has a knack of being able to show people what they have in common.”

Before the swearing-in ceremony, Justice Genovesi spoke briefly about Seddio, whom she referred to as a close friend, noting that he has a remarkable impact on the lives of so many people with whom he is connected.

“He’s a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, chef and, most of all to me, a friend,” Genovesi said. “He is my friend. To spend time with Frank is a lesson in his distinct style. Over the years I’ve met countless clients, litigants and constituents and community people [on] whom Frank has had such a positive impact. He is a truly special person and a great friend.”

Finally, Seddio took the time to thank many of the people in the audience. He discussed working as a group and using common sense to increase the reputation of the Bar Association. He said that his presidency will be a trio, as he will lean on Aidala for help and also the President-Elect Aimee Richter. He then set some goals for the next year.

“We look to the future,” Seddio said. “This is a great organization. It has distinguished itself by not just being an organization of professionals, but being an organization that accomplishes things.

“We’re going to expand on what Arthur has done,” Seddio continued. “Two of the areas I want to focus on are bringing in new membership and bringing in our more experienced attorneys that maybe practice by themselves or are semi-retired. We have a lot of things to accomplish, and we need your help to do that.”

 

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