Vairo, Georgene

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Thank You, John

Fordham University School of Law

Fordham Law Review Volume 70 Issue 6 Article 13 2002 Thank You, John Georgene Vairo Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr  Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Georgene Vairo, Thank You, John, 70 Fordham L. Rev. 2191 (2002). Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol70/iss6/13 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and History. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fordham Law Review by an authorized editor of FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and History. For more information, please contact tmelnick@law.fordham.edu. Thank You, John Cover Page Footnote Professor of Law and William M. Raines Fellow, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA. Fordham Law School, class of 1979. Fordham Law School, Faculty, 1981-1995; Associate Dean, 1987-1995. This article is available in Fordham Law Review: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol70/iss6/13 THANK YOU, JOHNGeorgene Vairo*Thank you. Those were the first words that I ever heard JohnFeerick speak. Still Fordham law students at the time, OrinMcCluskey,1 Michelle Daly,2 and I were members of the team that hadjust won the National Moot Court competition for the first time inFordham Law School's history, and John wanted to meet the team. Ihad heard about John Feerick-that he was an important alumnus ofthe Law School; a partner at and was the first associate hired bySkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; author of a Pulitzer Prizenominated book about the presidential succession process,3 and co-drafter of the 25th Amendment' on presidential succession. We wereflattered that such an important man wanted to take some time out ofhis busy schedule to meet us.For those of you who know me well, you may find it hard to believethat at the time I was somewhat shy, and tongue-tied around adults.And so, I was somewhat apprehensive about meeting the great JohnFeerick. Thankfully, I had not yet heard that among his nicknameswere: "John the Good" and "St. John." How quickly though, he putme at ease when we did first meet. The purpose of the meeting wassimply to thank us for the contribution that we made to the school.Immediately, I was impressed by his sincerity and great dedication toFordham Law School. On the one hand, I felt humbled by hisattention; on the other, he made me incredibly proud to be a memberof the Fordham Law School family.Since that day, sometime in the spring of 1979, as he did for somany others, John has served as my personal employment office, andmentor. First, after graduating from the Law School, he engineeredfor me a place at his distinguished law firm, Skadden, Arps. Ipracticed Antitrust law there, not Labor Law, but John always madesure to keep in touch and to make sure that I was having a great* Professor of Law and William M. Raines Fellow, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles,CA. Fordhan Law School, class of 1979. Fordham Law School, Faculty, 1981-1995;Associate Dean, 1987-1995.1. Class of 1979.2. Class of 1979.3. John D. Feerick, The Twenty-Fifth Amendment: Its Complete History AndEarliest Applications (1976; 2d ed. 1992); John D. Feerick, From Failing Hands: TheStory of Presidential Succession (1965).4. U.S. Const. Amend. XXV.2191FORDHAM LAW REVIEWexperience there. (I was!) After a year or so at Skadden, John calledme to ask me if I were still interested in a federal clerkship. When Itold him I was, he played matchmaker again, helping to arrange forme to become then Dean, now Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin's firstlaw clerk. Next, John called me to tell me that he would becomeJudge McLaughlin's successor as Dean at Fordham, and, wanted toknow if I would be his first faculty appointee.Of course, I said yes. I learned what so many of us learned over theyears. It is hard to say anything but "yes" to John when he asks forsomething. Lucky for me, however, John's question would put asalary in my pocket. More typically, his request resulted in moneygoing from an alum's pocket into the Law School's Annual Fund.When John made the call to invite me to join the Fordham faculty, Ithought I would work as a professor at Fordham for a couple of years,and then go back and get a real job. I had been well-trained to be alawyer as a student at Fordham; I enjoyed the practice of law atSkadden, Arps; and I was amazed by all I was learning during myyear's clerkship with Judge McLaughlin. Working as a district courtclerk made me appreciate the bench and the bar, and the practice oflaw even more. Nonetheless, I was really looking forward to workingat Fordham for a while at least, and anxiously awaited John's nextcall, to iron out the details. Sometime later, I received that call. Itseemed that there was a Faculty Appointments Committee that hadsome say on whether I would be hired. Although, John told me not toworry, something told me to worry.Indeed, there was a bit of a problem. John was coming to the LawSchool from a practice background. Although a scholar and anerudite one at that, John was not practiced in the ways of facultygovernance. And, as it turned out, Fordham Law School was in theincipient stages of transformation in some important respects. TheLaw School had a great local and even regional reputation. But, therewere some members of the faculty who thought that by placing moreof an emphasis on scholarship that the Law School could move to aplace of national prominence. Therefore, a significant group offaculty members thought that it would be better not to hire aFordham Law graduate, i.e., me, with no scholarly record to speak ofexcept for the Note I wrote for the Law Review.5Lucky for me, the faculty gave John the benefit of the doubt.Nonetheless, when I joined the Fordham faculty in September 1982, Iquickly became aware of the difference of opinion on the direction ofthe Law School. Looking back, this hiring decision was a definingmoment, not just for me (all I had to worry about was getting andkeeping a job), but, more importantly for John. How was he going to5. It just came to mind that John Feerick was the person who forwarded the ideafor my Note-the Unionization of Law Firms-to the Law Review.2192 [Vol. 70THANK YOU, JOHNsteer this boat, and manage all its crew, to ensure that the schoolarrive safely at the prominent place that it deserved in the legalacademy? He would be great at raising money, (there are all thestories of John walking into breakfast meetings at prominent lawfirms, only to find all the partners standing there with their pocketsalready turned inside out), but how was he going to deal with a facultywhose members had very different ideas about the future of the LawSchool?Characteristically, John made a great first move in that regard: Heasked the beloved Professor Joseph Crowley to be his AssociateDean, the first person to hold that position at the Law School. Byasking Professor Crowley to serve with him, John accomplished anumber of important goals. Most importantly, he ensured the counselof a long time, respected and loved faculty member who would helphim understand the ways of faculty governance. Another thing thatstrikes me about Dean Crowley's appointment is that it showed John'slack of ego. He understood that it was not always possible for him todo everything that needed to be done, or that perhaps others wereskilled at accomplishing some tasks, or could be instrumental inhelping him accomplish his goals for the school. So, by forming ateam, and working closely with his team, he would ensure that morecould be accomplished for the school. His administration will beremembered for its teamwork approach.That teamwork model epitomizes my working relationship withJohn, first as a fledgling professor for a few years, and later andespecially as his Associate Dean for eight years. John was always busydoing things outside the school-serving as the head of GovernorCuomo's Commission on Government Integrity;b as President of theAssociation of the Bar of the City of New York; on various importantbar association committees and taskforces. Although he had to spendmuch time away from the school, there always was time for me to lethim know what was going on at the school, what we should be doingabout this problem or that; this program or project, etc. Many of ourmeetings would be during fast paced walks from the Law School toJohn's next meeting outside of the Law School. Others would takeplace in my office. Countless times, John would pop through the doorfrom his office into my office, the old Dean's Conference Room.Generally, it would be seven or eight or nine o'clock at night. And wewould talk and try to figure out how to tackle both the important andmore mundane matters involved in running the Law School, or someproject that either he or I was involved in. These chats were alwaysinteresting and fun. John served as an arbitrator for the NFL andNBA, and it was especially interesting to talk about those matters. He6. His work there resulted in another book: Richard Briffault, John D. Feerick &Robert M. Kaufman, Dollars and Democracy: A Blueprint for Campaign FinanceReform (2000).2002] 2193FORDHAM LAW REVIEWalso was wonderful to talk to when various difficult issues arose inconnection with my service as Chairperson of the Dalkon ShieldClaimants Trust.What was impressive about John, and what made what otherwisewould have been an almost totally thankless job wonderful for me,was that he always made sure that I understood how much he reliedon me, trusted my advice and valued my ideas. He didn't act like aboss. Rather he acted like a trusted friend who needed my help.Perhaps because we came back to the Law School together-he as theDean; me as a junior professor-there was a special bond between usthat made us value each other in a very unique way, as we workedwith the Law School community to make our school the very best thatit could be.Working with John was an incredible experience. His energy andhard work were beyond belief. I know I always worked long and hardhours, but his schedule put mine to shame. Thinking about what wasaccomplished during his tenure is mind-boggling. During my thirteenyears as a Professor and as Associate Dean of the Law School, therewere amazing changes. But the changes were made in ways that bestpreserved the traditions of Fordham Law School. Numerous facultymembers were hired. They all demonstrated the proclivity forengaging in the type of scholarship that would help improveFordham's reputation in the eyes of professors in law schoolsthroughout the country. At the same time, however, all new facultymembers who were hired also showed an equally strong commitmentto teaching and interacting with our students. There was no questionthat Fordham Law School would not deviate from its mission ofeducating excellent lawyers.Indeed, under John's leadership, that mission was refined throughhis advancement of the ideals of ethics, professionalism, and publicservice. John relentlessly worked to raise money to support ourgrowing efforts in those areas. For example, long before it becametrendy, Fordham Law School took seriously the need to teachstudents about ethics and professionalism, and to develop scholarshipin this area. Indeed, it is probably still true that Fordham Law Schoolhas more professors writing in the areas of ethics and professionalismthan any other law school in the country.' Similarly, it is no accidentthat Fordham's public service program developed under John'sleadership.8 His career is a model of public service.' He could never7. The Stein Center for Law and Ethics was perhaps the first of its kind.8. The Crowley Program is just one example of the public service programsdeveloped under John's leadership.9. John has received numerous awards for his support of public service, includingthe Ellis Island Medal of Achievement, the Gold Medal of the New York State BarAssociation, the Whitney North Seymour Public Service Award of the Federal BarCouncil, and the Law and Society Award of the New York Lawyers for the Public2194 [Vol. 70THANK YOU, JOHNsay no to anyone who asked for his help, whether it was the Governorof New York, the American Bar Association, the Association of theBar of the City of New York, or a student who needed help in gettinga job. Watching how he worked helped to imbue in me, as well asthousands of students, our alumni, and faculty, a real commitment topublic service and helping anybody in need.Another tradition that flourished under John's leadership was ourlaw school's commitment to diversity. Fordham always has had a longhistory of opening its doors to students who would be shut out ofother institutions. During my time at the school, the number ofwomen and minority students and faculty grew because of hiscommitment to that ideal. Additionally, our clinical program and ourLL.M. programs were launched during that time.And what of Fordham's reputation? Did that law school with agreat regional reputation achieve national prominence? Undoubtedlyit has. There are many indications that John's leadership has pushedthe school to the highest levels of national prominence. Fordham issolidly within the first tier of American law schools, ranking as one ofthe best schools in the country.'0 The faculty is among the mostproductive in American law schools, producing scholarship that is theenvy of many, many schools. Fordham's ethics, human rights,European Community Law and other programs have brought the LawSchool great renown from across the world. Our students are offeredclerkships from judges, law firms, and public service organizations allover the country. There are books and magazines that rank ourschool in many ways, and Fordham has reached a place ofpreeminence in all of them. There is one measure of a school'sgreatness, though, that is hard to measure. I am confident that it isfair to say that our alumnae and alumni are the most loyal to theirschool of any other school in the world, thanks to John's hard work.Now, after twenty years in the job, John has decided that it is timefor him to leave as Dean of the Law School. He has worked tirelesslyfor all of us. He leaves Fordham Law School, our profession, ourcountry and our world in a far better place. And so, it is now time forme, and for all of us, to say, Thank You, John.Interest.10. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school number thirty-two last year,and the school has consistently ranked within the top thirty schools of the countryover the last decade or so.2002] 2195Notes & Observations

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Thank You, John

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