85-Year-Old New York Court Officer Retires After 62 Years of Service
The Bronx native began working as a court officer at the age of 24, in 1962. He has a deep appreciation for the courthouse and for years has given tours to anyone from area school children to foreign dignitaries.
March 13, 2024 at 04:27 PM
2 minute read
State and Local GovernmentAfter 62 years of service, Maj. Gerard Fennell descended the courthouse steps in lower Manhattan for the last time as a court officer on Wednesday. The 85-year-old departed the Manhattan Supreme Court building at 60 Centre St. to applause from the crowd of judges, court staff, court officers and civilians who gathered to see him off at the walkout ceremony. Bagpipes played, and he occasionally stopped on the steps to shake hands, emotion visible on his face. When asked by the Law Journal to confirm anecdotal reports that he was one of the longest-serving court officers in the New York State Unified Court System, Fennell replied: "Probably." The Bronx native began working as a court officer in 1962 when he was 24 years old. He has a deep appreciation for the iconic courthouse on Foley Square and for years provided tours of the nearly 100-year-old building to anyone, from area school children to foreign dignitaries. Asked if he has a favorite memory of his time in the historic building, Fennell said there have been "so many." Speaking about the many notable people who've traveled through over the years—either as litigants or visitors—he said he was "privileged and gratified" to have been of service. "I was privileged and gratified that I was able to engage those circumstances and move them along," he said. He advised the next generation of court officers to remember that those visiting court are often going through deeply personal and distressing times and to always be mindful of that. "You need to be necessarily thoughtful and contemplative with both the personalities and issues that confront them," he said. Fennell said he hadn't made up his mind as to what to do next, though he may visit Ireland. "I'm very grateful to God to have had this opportunity to serve you," he said in closing.
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