John Francis, Jr. Droney ’73 passed away at his home in West Hartford on July 19, at the age of 79. He practiced as a distinguished member of the Connecticut bar from 1973 to 2022. Read more about his life.
Alumni
Lesley Chuang ’12 Honored by Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts
Lesley Chuang ’12 received an Emerging Women Leaders in the Law award from the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts (WBA). Chuang Litigation Of Counsel at DLA Piper in Boston
The WBA’s Emerging Women Leaders in the Law Award honors women attorneys who have demonstrated professional excellence or had a significant professional achievement in approximately their first 12 years in the legal profession, and either promote the status of women in the legal profession or contribute meaningfully to the equal participation of women in a just society.
In Memoriam: Robert A. Firger ’73
Robert A. Firger ’73 passed away at his home in Bloomfield on July 5, at the age of 79. He served as an Associate Editor of the Connecticut Law Review. Read more about his life.
In Memoriam: Donald J. Rinaldi
Donald J. Rinaldi ’63 passed away peacefully on July 9, 2026, at Waterbury Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Donald had a distinguished legal career spanning more than 50 years, practicing law in Waterbury and Watertown, CT. Read more about his life.
In Memoriam: Timothy Sheehan
Timothy Sheehan ’72 passed away at his home on June 28, surrounded by his loving family. Read more about his life and legacy in the obituary he wrote himself.
Three Alumni Take Office at Connecticut Bar Association
On July 1, the Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA) slate of officers for the 2026-27 bar year began their terms, which will run until June 30, 2027. The officers include:
Rowena A. Moffett ’97, President-Elect: Moffett is co-managing partner of Brenner Saltzman & Wallman LLP. After clerkships with U.S. District Judge Dominic Squatrito and U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Smith, she joined Brenner Saltzman & Wallman LLP in 2000 and became a principal in 2005.
Cindy M. Cieslak ’12, Secretary: Cieslak is a partner at Rose Kallor LLP in Hartford. She counsels both private- and public-sector clients on all aspects of labor and employment law, including labor disputes and litigation in courts and administrative agencies.
Emily A. Gianquinto ’06, Immediate Past President: Gianquinto is special counsel at McCarter & English LLP in Hartford, where she counsels employers on day-to-day employment matters and represents them before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and mediation and arbitration panels.
Adam Gendelman ’07 Joins Greenberg Traurig
Adam Gendelman ’07 has joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as a shareholder, working out of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. He previously spent more than 15 years at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Sarah Karwan ’00 Appointed General Counsel in the Office of the Governor
Governor Ned Lamont has appointed Sarah Karwan ’00 to serve as general counsel in the Office of the Governor. She was previously the counsel to the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
In Memoriam: Jerome E. Skolnick ’61
Jerome E. Skolnick ’61 recently passed away at the age of 92. He was married for nearly 70 years to his best friend, Lee, who survives him. Read more about his life.
In Memoriam: Lloyd Frauenglass ’66
Lloyd Frauenglass ’66 passed away on June 5. Lloyd practiced family law in Glastonbury, CT, where he was a longtime resident. Read more about his life.