DEDICATION

In Memory of Anna E. Hirsch

Anna E. Hirsch, alumnus, President, and friend of the New England School of Law, passed away on December 19, 1997 in Norwood, Massachusetts. Though we will no longer be graced by her presence, her impact on our law school will be felt for generations.

Anna E. Hirsch was born in the town of Dedham, Massachusetts on September 22, 1902. During her years at Dedham High School, she worked part-time in the office of the Norfolk County Register of Probate and became Assistant Register upon graduation. During this time, Anna E. Hirsch brought her interest in the law to Portia Law School, now New England School of Law. She received her Juris Doctorate in 1928 from Portia Law School, and she was admitted to the bar that same year.

In 1954, Anna E. Hirsch became the first woman to be elected as Register of Probate, becoming the second woman elected to county wide office in Massachusetts. She grew in stature and respect during her first term, running what was considered the finest Registry of Probate in the state. In 1960, she was re-elected to a second term by the highest vote cast for any candidate in Norfolk County. Anna E. Hirsch became a leading authority in Massachusetts and the nation in the area of probate and estate law, domestic relations, and equity law. Lawyers still lament the passing of the "Golden Years of Anna E. Hirsch" in the Probate and Family Court of Norfolk County.

In 1966, Anna E. Hirsch was asked to join the Board of Trustees of Portia Law School as it began the long and arduous road toward ABA accreditation. As a dedicated alumnus, she fought tenaciously to ensure that the Board and the administration exceeded every ABA standard. She recognized early on that only by receiving ABA accreditation would our school be able to compete and receive national recognition. In furtherance of this goal, Anna E. Hirsch along with the other Board members and administrators were selfless in their single-minded pursuit--traveling across the country at their own expense to meet with ABA officials and satisfy them that we were in full compliance with ABA standards. Her dedication to that end led to provisional approval by the ABA in January 1969 and full approval in August 1973.

In 1983, Anna E. Hirsch was elected President of the corporation of the New England School of Law, becoming the first alumnus and first woman ever elected to this office. Her tenure as President, as her tenure as Register of Probate, was marked by her meticulous and unwavering attention to every detail. She took the initiative to ensure that New England School of Law recruited top-notch faculty, building what is today one of the finest faculties in the country. Above all, Anna E. Hirsch wanted New England School of Law to be a place of opportunity. She never forgot what this law school gave to her in allowing her to pursue a career in the field she loved, and she wanted to ensure that others would have the same opportunity.

President Anna E. Hirsch has been a true friend of the New England School of Law. She opened doors for women and paved the way for all of us to pursue a career in law. She spearheaded our accreditation and is primarily responsible for what our law school is today. Anna E. Hirsch, alumnus, President, and friend of the New England School of Law, will always be remembered for her unparalleled contributions to our school.^*

* The editors of the New England Law Review would like to thank Hon. James R. Lawton, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Harold Udell, Trustee, for their contributions to this dedication. This piece was written with excerpts from their prior tributes to Anna E. Hirsch and from their personal remarks to us.