IN MEMORIAM
John Merrell Dinse
John M . Dinse , whose loyal professional relationship with his firm , now called Dinse , Knapp & McAndrew , spanned more than 65 years , died on July 14 , 2016 at the age of 91 . Born in Rochester , NY on June 26 , 1925 , John Dinse ’ s education was interrupted by service in World War II , after which he attended The University of Rochester and then Cornell Law School . During law school , he married Ann Thompson Goodenough . Attorney Dinse was one of the original lawyer members of the Judicial Nominating Board and served as Chairman , he was VBA President 1978- 9 , and was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation , the American Law Institute , the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the American College of Trial Lawyers . As part of his commitment to community service , John Dinse served on many hospital boards and foundations . John was an avid skier and sailor and was dedicated to preserving Vermont ’ s natural resources , including serving on Governor Hoff ’ s Vermont Waterways Commission . He continued to serve as a mediator and arbitrator after his retirement and was at that time nominated for VBA ’ s Professionalism and Ethics award . Outwardly reserved , and preferring the company of his devoted black labs , he admitted that he usually spoke to most dogs he met on the street , more than he did most people . A devoted family man , Dinse is survived by his wife of 67 years , Ann , and two children and grandchildren .
SERVICES
BRIEFS & MEMORANDA . Experienced attorney writes appellate briefs , trial memoranda . Legal writing / appellate advocacy professor ; author of four books . VT . attorney since 1992 . $ 50 per hour . Brian Porto , 674-9505 .
PRIVATE INVESTIGATION AND DETEC- TIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE .
Locally based , 20 years experience . Serious inquiries only . Asset locates , criminal investigations . 802-253-8381 . Gary Small : vermontpi672 @ gmail . com / Christina Sultan : csultanb15 @ gmail . com .
Eric Poehlmann
Eric Poelhmann died at the age of 46 on August 24 , 2016 , while climbing one of Colorado ’ s 14,000 + foot high peaks , after having summited 47 Colorado peaks in his lifetime , in addition to Washington ’ s Mount Ranier . Born on September 3 , 1969 , in Boulder , Colorado , Eric settled in Vermont in 1996 after completing Cornell Law School . Poehlmann spent a year at Oxford University in England , took a year off as a “ ski bum ” after graduating , and then obtained a Masters in Economic History from the London School of Economics . Eric met his wife , Jennifer , at Cornell Law School , where he was an editor of the Cornell Law Review , and they settled in Richmond , Vermont upon graduation and upon being hired by Downs , Rachlin Martin . Attorney Poehlmann was a top federal pre-emption lawyer , handled complex litigation , and also wrote Vermont ’ s anti- “ patent troll ” statute , the first-ever law in the Country which has since been copied by other states . Despite his stellar accomplishments and victories , Eric was known to be humble , humorous , and laid-back . Eric was a devoted family man , attending all of this children ’ s activities over the years , coaching many local soccer and baseball teams along the way . He was an avid hiker and soccer player , and was extremely quick-witted , known as having a laugh that could fill a room . He is survived by his wife and partner of 23 years , Jennifer , three children aged 11 , 9 and 5 and his parents and sisters . In Eric ’ s honor , a trust fund has been established
CLASSIFIEDS
QDROs ( qualified domestic relations orders )
I prepare QDROs and other retirement pay and pension benefit domestic relations orders for federal , state , municipal , military and private retirement plans as may be required by the terms of the settlement agreement or the court ’ s final order .
I handle all initial contacts with the plan or third party administrator and provide all necessary processing directions when the order is ready for filing .
Vermont family law attorney since 1986 . Contact me for additional information and preparation rates . Tom Peairs , 1-802-498-4751 . tlpeairs @ sover . net www . vtqdro . com to provide for the educational needs of his three children — the Eric Poehlmann Trust , c / o Downs Rachlin Martin , POB 190 , Burlington , VT 05402 .
Marianne Kennedy
Born on September 13 , 1050 , Marianne Kennedy passed away at her home , surrounded by friends , family and her beloved golden retriever , Maggie , on September 18 , 2016 . She was born in the Bronx New York , attended St . Helena ’ s Catholic School and began a professional career assisting doctors with research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine . Marianne received her JD from Vermont Law School in 1986 while raising her then 7-year-old son as a single mother . She originally opened a firm , focusing on family law , but later devoted herself to nonprofits and public agencies as an expert in restorative justice . She was the Executive Director of the Bennington County Court Diversion Program and the Rutland Women ’ s Network and Shelter . Kennedy worked for the Douglas Administration on its Long Term Care & Medicaid Program and returned to practice at Kenlan Schwiebert in Rutland in 2006 . She has received the VBA Pro Bono Award for providing distinguished legal services to under-privileged Vermonters . Marianne loved dogs and nature and was known for her passion for life . She is survived by her husband of 29 years , Shane Sweet , her dog , Maggie , and her son .
50 THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2016 www . vtbar . org