The Honorable M. Stanley Susskind of Bayonne passed away on Nov. 7, 2016, at the age of 86, following a lengthy illness.
Other than college and military service, Susskind lived in Bayonne his entire life. After graduating from Bayonne High School he attended the University of Vermont.
Before graduating from Rutgers Law School, he served in the Army Infantry branch of the U.S. military, where, upon graduating Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he achieved the position of 2nd Lieutenant during the Korean War. He was an Infantry Platoon leader, teaching basic training, and was a weapons instructor, acting chaplain and regimental court martial officer at Camp Rucker, Alabama.
Susskind and his father, Nathan Susskind, were partners for several decades in the prominent Bayonne law firm of Susskind and Susskind, Esqs. After his father’s death he remained in practice until illness forced his retirement to the dismay of his many loyal clients and admirers.
He was admitted to the Bars of both the State of New Jersey and the State of Florida, and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence to be eligible to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as Florida’s out-of-state Bar Representative for the entire Northeast.
His professional experiences, activities and accomplishments were extensive as well. He served as Bayonne Municipal Court judge, Bayonne Municipal Court prosecutor, Bayonne assistant city attorney, Bayonne Planning Board attorney, chairman of the Superior Court Matrimonial Panel and chairman of the Superior Court Condemnation Panel. He also served as president of the Bayonne Bar Association and vice president of the Hudson County Bar Foundation.
Susskind was devoted to his Jewish roots and upbringing and served as president of Bayonne’s Temple Emanu-El from 2002-04. He has served on the Executive Board of the Bayonne Jewish Community Center and was local president and state vice president of the Zionist Organization of America. He served on the Board of Directors of the United Hebrew Schools, was a senior vice commander of the Jewish War Veterans, and has been honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Zionist Organization of America, Israel Bonds, Jewish National Fund and several other local charities for his fundraising activities. He was a member of the Menorah Masonic Lodge and was awarded Jaycees Man of the Year in 1966.
Susskind will be remembered for his extensive pro-bono legal work, his generosity, charitable endeavors, his intelligence and devotion, his kindness (hey – it’s right there in his name: Suss“KIND”), his unfailing accessibility to his clients, his family and his civic work. Quite possibility, he will be best remembered for his irrepressible sense of humor.
Susskind was predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Lillian (nee Epstein) Susskind.
He is survived by his devoted wife Beverly (nee Jacobs), and his three sons, Henry and his partner Dana Butcher of Somerville, Massachusetts, Jeffrey and his wife Shari-Beth of West Orange and Dr. Steve and his wife Hilarie of East Brunswick. He is also survived by his six wonderful grandchildren: Jacob, Benjamin and Noah of West Orange, and Danielle, Julia and Bradley of East Brunswick. He is also survived by two sisters, Betty Troum of Keene, New Hampshire, and Henny Weiss of Manhattan and Scottsdale, Arizona, and his sisters-in-law Cynthia Roberts of Elberon and Boca Raton, Florida, and Dr. Parvin Jacobs of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also survived by several beloved nieces and nephews, and many dear friends, cousins, clients, associates and admirers.
Services were held at Temple Emanu-El in Bayonne.
In lieu of flowers, make donations to Temple Emanu-El of Bayonne, UJA Federation, Peace Care St. Ann’s or to a charity of your choice.