James Joyce ’77 passed away on July 28, surrounded by his family. He had a fulfilling career as a CPA and attorney, accomplishing his primary dream of providing an education for his five children. Read more about his life.
Alumni
Alex A. Toribio ’05 Elected to Board of Urban League of Greater Hartford
Alex A. Toribio ’05, head of Global Litigation and Government Investigations at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., was elected as a new member of the Board of the Urban League of Greater Hartford in June. The local affiliate of the National Urban League is entering its 62nd year of continuous service providing education, employment, housing, and health programs while fighting for social justice.
Eileen O’Shaughnessy ’93 Joins CATIC
Eileen O’Shaughnessy ’93 has joined title insurance underwriter CATIC as vice president, managing counsel, in its Rhode Island office. In this role, she will lead CATIC’s Rhode Island team and provide underwriting and educational support for the firm’s Rhode Island agents.
Prior to joining CATIC, O’Shaughnessy was state underwriting counsel for a national title insurance company in Rhode Island. In that role, she advised and educated title insurance agents on real estate transactions and title insurance processes, determined insurability of titles, and reviewed titles for preparation of title commitments and policies for residential and commercial transactions.
In Memoriam: John Francis, Jr. Droney ’73
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.
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.