Obituary of Sanford Soffer

SANFORD SOFFER Sanford Soffer, age 88, died on January 1, 2012 at his home in Albany. He was the son of Abraham and Pauline Soffer, and brother of Esther Soffer and Harry Soffer. He was a graduate of Albany High School, and in 1941 entered New York University, where he majored in Sociology. During his college years he worked at the Henry Street Settlement House in Manhattan, and briefly considered a career in the theater when he was offered a leading role in the touring company of Junior Miss. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and served in combat as a non-commissioned officer in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. He was stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines, Okinawa, and was among the first U.S. troops to occupy Japan in 1945. After discharge, he finished his degree at NYU, graduated from Albany Law School in 1950, supported by the GI Bill, and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1951. He practiced law in Albany for over fifty years. He had a great sense of humor, a beautiful singing voice and always had a song in his heart. Sanford had a lifelong commitment to helping people. He was a trial lawyer and worked in many areas of civil law, including personal injury, real estate and adoptions. Deeply concerned with the well-being of families and children in crisis of divorce, he was one of the first attorneys in New York State to formulate joint custody agreements. Selected by his peers, he was featured in many editions of The Best Lawyers in America. He served on the board and was the President of the Albany County and New York State Mental Health Association, an advocacy group for patients, and was a board member and President of the Family and Childrens' Service. He was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Albany County Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and of Congregation Beth Emeth. Sanford was a longtime member of the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of New York , Third Judicial Department.Guardian Committee of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Judicial Department. . Sanford is survived by Miriam Steinhardt Soffer, his loving wife of 58 years, by his son, Jonathan Soffer, and his spouse Pamela Allen Brown, his daughter Melinda Soffer Calianos, and her husband Andreas Calianos, and by his grandchildren, Joshua Elias Calianos and Alexander Avery Calianos. The service will be at Congregation Beth Emeth 100 Academy Road in Albany, on Wednesday, January 4 at 12:30pm.. Those wishing to make donations may send them to Congregation Beth Emeth, Community Hospice of Albany, or to the charity of their choice