M.A.W.L'S Holiday Toast a Success

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M.A.W.L'S Holiday Toast a Success
by Elizabeth K. Steel, Esq.

On December 16, 2004, the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers held its fifteenth Annual Holiday Toast at the College Club in Boston. As is its usual practice, M.A.W.L. gave out the annual Carol DiMaiti Scholarship award to a deserving law student. M.A.W.L. also recognized Unsung Heroes of the Trial Court. The event was chaired by M.A.W.L. President-Elect, Jocelynne D. Welsh.

The evening started with cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres in the ornate drawing room of the College Club. A jazz pianist entertained the crowd as M.A.W.L. members, guests, honorees, their families and co-workers mingled. Judge Beverly Boorstein of the Probate Court, Judge Eileen Shaevel (ret.), Judge Judith A. Cowin of the Supreme Judicial Court also attended the event. Many members of the Board of Directors of M.A.W.L. were present, including President Carol Reiter, President-Elect Jocelynne D. Welsh, Recording Secretary Deborah Habig-Shnek, Corresponding Secretary Jane Taubner Barney, Treasurer Mary Healey, Elizabeth Steel, Celia Weinstein, Rosemary McAuliffe, and Martha Rush O’Mara, among others.

Each year, in memory of the late Attorney Carol DiMaiti, M.A.W.L. raises funds to award a scholarship to a law student. Carol DiMaiti was an attorney who was murdered by her husband in Boston, Massachusetts many years ago. Ms. DiMaiti’s father, Gusto DiMaiti, as well as his granddaughter, Carol DiMaiti, who is named after her late aunt, and his daughter-in-law, Mary DiMaiti, Esq., attended. The younger Carol, who is a very mature nine year old, gave a wonderful speech and presented the award, with Maria Luise, Esq., to Deborah Gutierrez. Ms. Gutierrez is a law student at New England School of Law.

At the Holiday Toast, M.A.W.L. also honored a select group of court employees as Unsung Heroes. In the past, M.A.W.L. has recognized representatives of the Victim Witness Advocates, Lawyer for the Day program, the Security department, and Juvenile Court Probation Officers.

This year, the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers chose to honor the Probation Officers of the Commonwealth’s Probate Courts. The speakers included Rick O’Neal, Field Supervisor for the Probate and Family Court, and John E. McNichols, Court Administrator for the Probate and Family Court, as well as numerous chief probation officers and assistant chief probation officers.

Each honoree was selected by the Chief or the Acting Chief Probation Officer for his or her county. The Unsung Hero awards were presented to Alicia R. Pusateri of the Barnstable County Probate and Family Court, Patricia Garvey of the Berkshire County Probate and Family Court, Donna M. Cordeiro-Tobin, of the Bristol County Probate and Family Court, Kathleen Nelligan, of the Essex County Probate and Family Court, and Katherine A. Spalliro, of the Hamden County Probate and Family Court. Also honored were Pamela Eldridge, of the Hampshire County Probate and Family Court, Anne C. Gallagher, of the Middlesex County Probate and Family Court, Andrew Sullivan, of the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court, Gail A. Hudson, of the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court, and Patricia Perry of the Worcester County Probate and Family Court.

As usual, the event was well attended and everyone enjoyed the festivities. Next year’s Holiday Toast will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2005 at the College Club in Boston.