Noach Dear (November 20, 1953 – April 19, 2020) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as a New York Supreme Court judge. Dear was elected in 2008 as a civil court judge, in 2010 as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, and in 2015 for a 15-year term as a Permanent Justice on the New York Supreme Court. Prior to his appointment, he served as a member of the New York City Council from 1983 to 2001. He died during the COVID-19 pandemic due to complications of COVID-19.
Noach Dear | |
---|---|
Justice of New York Supreme Court | |
In office November 5, 2015 – April 19, 2020 | |
Preceded by | David Schmidt |
Succeeded by | Vacant |
Member of the New York City Council | |
In office January 1, 1983 – December 31, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Susan Alter |
Succeeded by | Simcha Felder |
Constituency | 32nd district (1983–1991) 44th district (1991–2001) |
Personal details | |
Born | November 20, 1953 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Died | April 19, 2020 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | (aged 66)
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 4[1] |
Alma mater | Brooklyn College (BS) Yeshiva University (MSW) Brooklyn Law School (JD) |
Early life and education
editDear was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Joan (Lipins) and Sidney Dear.[1][2] As a child, Dear was in Eli Lipsker's Pirchei Agudath Israel Choir, and sang on the first New York Pirchei album Pirchei Sings אליך ה' אקרא.[3] He attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.[4] He maintained a connection to the Jewish music business into his early adulthood, being a founding member of the Clei Zemer Orchestra.[5]
Dear received a B.S. from Brooklyn College (1975), a master's degree in social work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University (1975), and a JD from Brooklyn Law School (1991).[6][7][8][9]
Career
editHis public service career began as a district leader and as district manager of Brooklyn's Community Board 12.[10][11][12]
Dear served as a member of the New York City Council from 1983 to 2001.[6] He headed the Transportation Committee and opposed commuter vans, otherwise known as "dollar vans," as a transportation alternative while in office.[13] Council member Dear also served on "the Finance and Land Use Committees as well."[14]
He advocated support for the State of Israel and concern for the issues impacting the primarily Jewish-and heavily Orthodox Jewish-residents in his community, which included Midwood, as well as large swaths of Borough Park and Bensonhurst, all in Brooklyn.[6] In 1986, Dear voted against a civil rights bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, and public accommodation.[15][6] In 1987 he introduced a bill, supported by "about 30 members of the City Council," to push permission for "more Jews .. to leave the Soviet Union."[16]
Dear was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission in 2002 for a seven-year term.[6]
Dear was widely seen as a political rival of Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who represented many of the same constituents that Dear once represented while in office, and comes from an Orthodox Jewish background.[17]
Term-limited out of office, Dear launched an uphill campaign for the New York State Senate seat now held by Kevin Parker in 2002. In a five-candidate field, Dear narrowly lost to Parker by a margin of 909 votes.[18] Dear also ran in a Democratic congressional primary that chose the successor to Charles Schumer in 1998, which saw him face three other candidates, including the eventual winner, Anthony Weiner.[19][20]
Dear was a New York Supreme Court judge, elected in 2008 as a civil court judge, in 2010 as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, and in 2015 for a 15-year term as a Permanent Justice on the Supreme Court.[21][6]
Death
editDear contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, was sick for weeks, and was placed on a ventilator.[6] He died on April 19, 2020, aged 66.[22][2] Dear was the second Brooklyn judge to die as a result of COVID-19.[23]
References
edit- ^ a b "Candidate - Noach Dear". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Roberts, Sam (April 20, 2020). "Noach Dear, Combative Brooklyn Councilman and Judge, Dies at 66". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Ginsberg, Rachel. "Catch a Falling Star: How do former child stars navigate life after the glitz and glitter is gone?" Mishpacha, April 9, 2014, p. 152.
- ^ "Noach Dear z"l". Matzav. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Ki Lecha Tov Lehodos". Discogs. May 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hana Levi Julian (April 19, 2020). "Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Noach Dear, 67, Dies from COVID-19". Jewish Press. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "New York Supreme Court Judge And Former Councilman Noach Dear Passes Away From Coronavirus"
- ^ "Noach Dear, New York State Supreme Court: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets". Bloomberg. February 7, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ Judith N. McMahon. "Judges Profiles | Noach_Dear". New York Law Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Candidates Crowd the Field in Primary for Council". The New York Times. September 9, 1991.
- ^ Charisma Miller (February 1, 2013). "Brooklyn's legal community reflects with sadness on passing of Mayor Koch". Brooklyn Eagle.
- ^ James Harney (August 13, 2017). "Meet the judge: Kings County Supreme Court Justice Noach Dear chats with us".
- ^ Waldman, Amy. 1997. "Veto Aids a 'Dollar Van' Line" New York Times
- ^ "Noach Dear".
- ^ GOLDMAN, JOHN J. (March 21, 1986). "N.Y. Passes Gay Rights Bill After 15-Year Debate". LA Times. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Council Pressures Soviets To Open Jewish Emigration". Associated Press. September 23, 1987.
- ^ Elisabeth Bumiller (March 17, 1996). "The Gladiators of Borough Park; Rivals Compete for Power in an Orthodox Arena". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "LID: Borough Politics May 17, 2004". Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2006.
- ^ Buffa, Denise (August 20, 2000). "DEM GETS 2ND RUN ON GOP'S TICKET". New York Post. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "New York primary results - September 15, 1998". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ Donn, Yochonon (November 5, 2015). "Noach Dear Elected to 15-Year Term at State Supreme Court". Hamodia.
- ^ Ferber, Yanky; Weisberg, Moshe (April 19, 2020). "השופט החרדי ונציג החרדים במועצת העיר ניו יורק הלך לעולמו" [Haredi judge and representative on the New York City Council dies]. BeChadrei Hareidim (in Hebrew). Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ Wester, Jane (April 19, 2020). "Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Noach Dear Dies of Complications From Coronavirus". New York Law Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2020.