Boston Bar Association Mourns the Passing of M. Ellen Carpenter

Boston Bar Association (BBA) President Jack Cinquegrana issued the following statement regarding the death of M. Ellen Carpenter, a lawyer who served as President of the BBA from 2004 to 2005:

“Ellen’s sudden and untimely death leaves all of us with a profound sense of loss, both personally and professionally.  She was an extraordinarily talented leader who exemplified the very best of our profession -- always personifying the principle that there are no limits to what lawyers can accomplish when unbridled enthusiasm and collegiality prevail.  Ellen’s many contributions will long be remembered by those of us who had the privilege of working with her but also by the community at large.  She was a beloved member of the BBA family who will be sorely missed.”

As President of the BBA, M. Ellen Carpenter spearheaded, in partnership with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, a highly regarded financial literacy program for high school students that continues to thrive today.  Using her presidency as a bully pulpit to highlight the value of serving the profession and the community, she was a cherished mentor to many lawyers and each year looked forward to serving as moderator of a symposium for new lawyers called “Mistakes New Lawyers Make.”  Shortly before her death, she had been named Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association Leadership Task Force on Diversity.