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Bar News - June 17, 2005 Fifty-Year Members Reflect on Their Careers In this issue, Bar News continues to spotlight those members of the bar who have reached the 50-year milestone. These members, who will be honored at the Annual Meeting at The Balsams on the evening of June 24th, have many interesting stories to tell. Their profiles began appearing in the May 20th issue and continued in the June 3rd issue. They responded to questionnaires sent to them by Bar News. (See Publications Archives for previous articles.) Paul L. Normandin, who remains active with the Normandin, Cheney & O’Neil firm in Laconia, says, "It feels as if I have been practicing for 50 years! Considering all the pleasures and pressures that go with a general practice, I believe I helped people cope with their legal issues, as the laws changed dramatically during these years. It has been a fulfilling career that has gone by too fast. I have no regrets. Of course, I would like to do it all over again because with all that experience, I’d do it a lot better!" Attorney Normandin was born and raised in Laconia and received his law degree from Boston University School of Law. He served in the NH National Guard, starting as a private and ending as a captain and State Judge Advocate. "As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a lawyer," he says, "probably because of my father. People respected and trusted him; his clients wouldcome to our home seeking his help and advice. He practiced more than fifty years and started our firm in 1914." Paul Normandin became an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of NH, and then went into general practice in Laconia, serving on the city council and as a member of the Judiciary Committee in the NH House of Representatives. Later, he became a trustee of the Laconia Savings Bank and chaired the board for 16 years. He is also a 35-year member of the Kiwanis Club—and a distinguished past president. "My role models were my father (Fortunat E. Normandin) of course—and Judge William Keller and Judge Hugh Bownes. Every day in the practice of law is a day of learning," says Normandin. "Currently, I am president of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society and have been president of the Belknap Bar Association." These are just two more of the many ways in which Normandin has served his profession and his community. In fact, he has been the recipient of the Jim Irwin Community Recognition Service Award given by the Laconia Chamber of Commerce. His legal focus in later years has been on trust administration, probate and real estate law. One of the things he is most proud of is helping to establish the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth, NH by carrying out the intent of Remick’s will to perpetuate the "values inherent in a small town medical practice." Normandin’s first wife died when their youngest child was only nine. "I learned that when you have to be in court at 9 a.m. and the ‘no school’ bulletin is announced on the radio…you and the court have a problem!" He lives with his present wife, Linda, in Laconia. Still practicing, but, "at a slower and more selective pace…. I’m an avid believerin the Kim Zachos’ theory: ‘Old lawyers never die, they just hang around the office!’"
Attorney Bourque began his career as an associate at Wiggin & Nourie in Manchester, but in 1960 went into private practice, acting also as a part-time master and marital master. He served, too, as U.S. Commissioner and U.S. Magistrate for the District Court of NH. In 1988 he became a full-time marital master and held that position until his retirement in 1999. Bourque’s chief role model was Judge William A. Grimes—"and close behind was the honorable Haskell C. Friedman, who served on the Massachusetts Probate Court," he says. Bourque received the first William A. Grimes Award for Judicial Professionalism in January of 2000. It is one of the things he is most proud of, along with serving on the BU Law Review and having one of his articles cited by the U.S. Supreme Court ."I have been married to my wife Claire for 47 years. We have three daughters, Kathleen, Mary and Amy and two grandsons, Timothy and Matthew Suzor—all of whom have been a source of pride and joy." Bourque is retired; he enjoys photography, woodworking and cooking, takes walks and does crossword puzzles—and especially enjoys his family and "visiting with my grandsons." Alexander J. Kalinski was born and raised in Manchester, the son of Polish immigrants. Upon graduating from high school, Kalinski enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for two years, after which he enrolled at Holy Cross College; later transferring to St. Anselm’s College in Manchester. Kalinski received his law degree from Boston College Law School in 1955 and was admitted to the NH Bar that year. "My legal career has been varied and interesting," Kalinski says, who worked as a solo practitioner in Manchester." One of his first cases was to represent a client whose car had been struck at a railroad crossing—and whose previous attorney had withdrawn from the case. The defendant was the Boston and Maine Railroad and their attorney was John Sheehan of Sheehan, Phinney and Bass. The jury deliberated for four hours, much to thesurprise and consternation of Attorney Sheehan, Kalinski recalls. However, Sheehan, knowing it was Kalinski’s first jury case, treated him kindly "with dignity and respect." The jury found for the defendant. "That was my baptism of fire in the litigation process," says Kalinski. From 1958 until 1962 Kalinski acted as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. "The legal activities in that office were extensive and involved representing various agencies of the U.S. government in both civil and criminal matters," he says. In 1962 Kalinski became Assistant Attorney General of the State of New Hampshire under William Maynard. He remained at the Attorney General’s office until 1966. Kalinski recalls that he and Marion Alexander, a long-time employee of the AG’s office, drafted most of the legislation for the New Hampshire legislature, working closely with state senators and representatives. It was also their job to review the revised statutes and make sure no errors crept into them before they were sent to the publisher. Because of the heavy workload in the office, Kalinski and Alexander were falling behind in reviewing the statutes. One Friday afternoon Chief Justice Frank Kenison called Kalinski over to his office. He said he was cognizant of the time constraints they were working under, but went on to say, "I don’t care if you do it the right way or the wrong way—or even your way, but get it done!" Says Kalinski, "Needless to say, the review became a priority after that!" "On the criminal side—our office prosecuted Edward Coolidge who was charged with the murder of 14-year-old Pamela Mason; her body was found in a snow bank by the side of the road on Route 93 in South Manchester. Attorneys Peter Smith and I and Hillsborough County Attorney Emile R. Bussiere were the prosecutors, along with Attorney General William Maynard. A guilty verdict was returned and Coolidge was sentenced to life in prison." The Coolidge case became a landmark case when the defendant’s attorneys, John Graf, Matthias Reynolds and Robert Chiesa filed an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court on the grounds of illegal seizure of evidence. "I was privileged to represent the State in oral argument at the hearing of the appeal, at which the Solicitor General of the United States, Archibald Cox, argued on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice," Kalinski went on. The conviction was reversed and a second trial took place. Subsequently, however, Coolidge pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 19-25 years in prison. In 1966 Kalinski left the Attorney General’s office and returned to private practice with Maurice Bois and W. Jean Laflamme. "I practiced with the firm until 1970 when I was appointed Chairman of the NH Public Utilities Commission by Governor Walter Peterson. In 1976 I served for a year as the president of the National Association of Utility Commissioners. In my capacity as president, I represented the Association before various committees of both the U.S. Senate and House. I also served as a member of the Federal Communications Commission State and Federal Joint Board on Telecommunications." In 1979 Kalinski again returned to private practice; he is still an active practitioner. For 16 years he served as special counsel to the NH Nuclear Decommissioning Financing Committee as part of his practice. He has been admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court in Concord, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, the U.S. Tax Court and the U. S. Supreme Court. Attorney Kalinski has also been activein community affairs, serving on the advisory committee that oversaw the formation of the Catholic Medical Center and has been a member of the Queen City Toastmasters Club and president of the NH Estate Planning Council. Kalinski and his wife Margaret Ann have four children: three sons, Daniel, James and David and a daughter, Bethann. Daniel is amember of the NH Bar; Bethann (Lowrie) is admitted to practice in Massachusetts. Last-minute reservations? Contact The Balsams directly at 1-800-255-0800 regarding room availability. Those who are already registered will receive a mailing regarding specific activities and NHBA•CLE registration information. |
Peter J. Bourque says he is surprised at how quickly the 50-year milestone has been reached. Bourque was born and raised in Manchester, NH and is a graduate of Boston University Law School. He has spent many years in the NH Army National Guard. Bourque’s brother Elmer preceded him at BU Law School—and Bourque thought the profession seemed one he too would enjoy. His parents and his wife Claire were very supportive—and he received "significant aid from the Hosser-Wagner Scholarship, for which I will always be grateful," he says. |
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