Boston Bar Association

Practicing law at Peabody & Arnold for his entire career, and making his mark as a giant among those who advanced civil legal services for poor people, John also served on the Legal Services Corporation board, following his appointment by President Clinton.

Based on what we've read so far, we love the Memoirs. The details about his distinguished family, especially his wife, Mimpy, are priceless as are his accounts of his early pro bono work -- representing Quaker conscientious objectors during World War II -- and what it was like serving as managing partner at a Boston law firm from 1945 through 1970.

As the BBA is a steadfastly non-partisan organization, we won't discuss John's astute observations on current politics. Being the BBA, we especially enjoyed John's recollections of life at 16 Beacon Street.

He joined the BBA in 1938, at the urging of a senior partner, and cut his BBA teeth working on its Committee on Legislation, reviewing all bills relating to the legal profession or other BBA concerns. "The only other member of that committee I can remember was Father Robert Drinan," writes John. "It was my first encounter with Father Drinan and I got to know him pretty well as we worked our way through the bills that had been filed."

The more things change, the more they stay the same. John writes of his frustration and ultimate success in getting the attention of the Legislature to pass Chapter 156B of the Massachusetts General Laws, legislation and he and his committee drafted purely as a public service.

We'd love to tell you more, including the story on the landmark study on legal needs of the poor, orchestrated during John's presidency. But then we'd have to include a spoiler alert.

Interested in getting a copy of John's Memoirs? Write to JGB2ndMemoirs@aol.com