The
young lawyer was saddled with his first major title problem. A colleague calling Marvin Kushner. Marv took the call, listening to
an explosion
of verbiage from the harried and anxious new lawyer, who was lost for an
approach and a solution. After gleaning
the facts, Marv recognized that the lawyer had to start at the registry of
deeds. He calmly began his response
with, “Ok. I understand the issue. Now tell me, which way is your car pointed…”
 |
| Marvin W. Kushner 1935-2018 |
And
that was the essence of Marv’s professionalism, personality and character. He
was blessed with calm insight and the ability to absorb the fine points of real
estate law and practice. He was a
craftsman in the practice. But his true
professionalism came with his willingness to share his knowledge and to assist
other lawyers, both new and accomplished.
His
participation in REBA, and its predecessor, the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association,
helped define the practice of real estate law in Massachusetts at a time when
the conveyancing bar was under assault by non-lawyers and out-of-state entities
attempting to redefine the practice of real estate law as a function not requiring
lawyers.
Those
who knew him admired his knowledge of the law, and his mediation and
negotiation skills in dealing with colleagues in a time-honored and gracious
manner. Of course, opposing counsel
respected Marv, recognizing his fairness and his ability to resolve complex legal
problems. Marv was truly a lawyer of the old school.
A
founder of several law firms bearing his name, most recently Kushner Sanders
Ravinal LLP, which thrives today, Marv retired from the practice of law in late
2012. Following his admission to the bar
in 1958, he had a long and prestigious career, concentrating his practice in
title and conveyancing matters, real estate and business law.
Marvin
served as past president of the Massachusetts Association of Bank Counsel, and
later on the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association board of directors, and as
the founding chair of the Association’s Residential Conveyancing Committee.
Marv
remained true to the practice of law until his retirement in 2012. His death last March concluded a distinguished
career, in which he provided our noble profession with the essence of fine
workmanship in representing buyers, sellers and lenders.
Dick Keshian
Chris
Kehoe
Peter
Wittenborg
