Richard Lawrence, beloved judge, dies at 66

Richard Lawrence of Merrick, a former Nassau County Family Court judge, longtime legal counsel to a state senator, and well-respected, well-loved community activist, died suddenly on April 21 of complications from a bone-marrow transplant. He was 66.

Hundreds of family members and friends attended funeral services at Gutterman's in Rockville Centre on Friday. Overwhelmingly, those who knew him best said he was a gentleman with an easy smile and kind word for all.

Susan Helsinger, who was named the Merrick Chamber of Commerce's Woman of the Year on the same year that Lawrence was named its Man of the Year, in 2000, said, "He always had a minute for anybody. He'd ask how you are. He really cared about people. And he loved his life. He relished his life."

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., of Merrick, said, "My family and I are deeply saddened by Rick's passing. He was a wonderful guy, and I cherished his friendship, and we will miss him sorely. We always regarded him as an outstanding jurist, a good man and a true friend."

Assemblyman David McDonough, of North Merrick, said, "I was very saddened to hear about Rick. I've known him for 25 years. He was a very good friend. He was a very competent attorney. I've spoken to people he represented in the past, and they've always had the best to say about him."

And Charles Rosenblum, president of Temple Beth Am in Merrick, where Lawrence was a member and special counsel, said, "He was a true pillar of the community."

Lawrence, a Cornell Law School graduate who was in private practice as an attorney for nearly 30 years before ascending to the bench, made his home in Merrick for 35 years with his wife of 43 years, Ronnie, a former Merrick and Bellmore-Merrick Central District Board of Education trustee. He was elected to Family Court in 1997 and served 10 years as a judge before returning to private practice. Before his election, Lawrence served as special counsel to the late Sen. Norman J. Levy of Merrick, who died in 1998.