Maria’s Back Story
Maria has been an admitted attorney in New York since January 26 1988. She graduated cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law in 1987, after having graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies. Maria has been married to her husband Tom for 32 years, is an empty nester, and has two grown daughters, Elizabeth (28) a graduate of Columbia Law School and Jacqueline (25) a graduate of SUNY Fredonia.
In 1996, Maria and Tom purchased a house in Westhampton Beach and together they renovated it and made it their family home. Maria was expecting their second child during the rehabilitation of this house. It was through Tom and Maria’s sweat-equity that the house went from being termite ridden with broken water pipes and a leaking roof to become a pleasant place to raise their children within walking distance of the schools.
Maria’s professional career began with a position at a law firm in Garden City where she was an associate attorney for two years. She then accepted employment as an attorney for Emigrant Bank in New York where Maria provided legal advice to senior management and all departments of the bank. During her 20 year tenure, Maria rose to the position of First Vice President and Associate General Counsel. Emigrant is a community bank with its main office in Manhattan that first opened in 1850 to serve Irish immigrants. Maria commuted by train from Speonk with friends who quickly dubbed themselves “the train gang.”
With Elizabeth entering High School and Jackie in Middle School, Maria opened her own practice in Westhampton Beach with her attentions focused on her daughters, her home community and her clients.
Maria served on the Board of Trustees for the Westhampton Free Library as both a Trustee and Treasurer. She was a member of the Board during the construction of the new library, which was completed on time and under budget.
For more than a decade when the cold weather set in from November through March, Maria was the coordinator for the homeless shelter at the Westhampton Presbyterian Church operated weekly for Maureen’s Haven, where she also serves on the church’s mission committee. In 2013, Maria was honored by Rotary International when they named her a Paul Harris Fellow recognizing her for her work in the community.
During the 2011-2012 school year, Maria and her family hosted a Rotary exchange student in their home from Zaragoza, Spain.
Maria has a long history of active public service
