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Contact: Rosanne Van Heertum
Director of Development, The New York Bar Foundation
rvanh@tnybf.org
518/487-5650
November 13, 2008
NEW ENDOWMENT FUND HONORS MEMORY OF LORRAINE POWER
THARP
Fund to Support Law-Related Charitable and
Educational Projects
The Board of Directors of The New York Bar Foundation has established
a new endowment fund in memory of Lorraine Power Tharp, who passed away
on October 28, 2008. The Lorraine Power Tharp Endowment Fund recognizes
her dedication to the law, service to the legal profession, selfless
public service and, in particular, her commitment to the mission of The
New York Bar Foundation. Ms. Tharp was a member of the Board of
Directors of The Foundation since 2003 and served as its Treasurer from
June 2007 until her death. The Foundation will use the new fund to aid
in supporting charitable and educational projects to meet the
law-related needs of the public and the legal profession.
“Lorraine was a distinguished member of the legal community and
The Foundation’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to create
The Lorraine Power Tharp Endowment Fund to serve as an important means
of preserving her legacy,” said John R. Horan, Foundation
president. “Her warmth, intellect and compassion for others will
be dearly missed by those of us who had the privilege of knowing
her.”
Tharp was elected a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation in 1994 and
was a member of its Legacy Society. Her leadership extended far beyond
The Foundation to many other organizations, including years of service
to the New York State Bar Association where she served as its president
in 2002-2003. She was a member of the American Bar Association, serving
as a Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates.
A 35-year practicing lawyer, Tharp was a partner with the firm of
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, Albany, where she chaired its
commercial and residential real estate practice group. She frequently
lectured and wrote on real estate practice throughout New York. Tharp
was the first woman lawyer at McNamee Lochner Titus & Williams, P.C.
in 1978 and later became its first woman partner in 1981.
A Massena native, Tharp received her law degree from Cornell Law
School and was a graduate of Smith College. She received the Albany Law
School's prestigious Kate Stoneman Award in 2003 and the Outstanding
Women of the Bar honor in 2004 from the New York County Lawyers'
Association.
Tharp was an active member of her community, devoting substantial
time and energy to many charitable organizations including those
relating to the arts, health and equine. She served as a commissioner of
the New York State Racing Commission and was the first woman to serve on
the Commission. She chaired the Saratoga Springs Planning Board and
served on the board of directors of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center,
Inc. She received the 1995 Leadership Saratoga Distinguished Alumni
Award, the Saratoga Soroptimist Club's 2002 Woman of the Year Award and
the Woman of Excellence in the Professions Award from the Albany-Colonie
Chamber of Commerce in 2003.
Donations for the Lorraine Power Tharp Endowment Fund may be sent to
THE NEW YORK BAR FOUNDATION, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207 or you may
make an online donation at www.tnybf.org. For more
information about The New York Bar Foundation, contact Rosanne Van
Heertum, director of development, at 518/487-5650 or rvanh@tnybf.org.
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