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Bar News - July 27, 2001 In Memoriam - Lawrence E. Spellman LAWRENCE E. SPELLMAN, a co-founder of the Concord law firm Ransmeier & Spellman, died June 29, 2001, at his Bow home at the age of 77. Spellman was born in Portland, Maine, May 8, 1924, to John and Elsie (Oliver) Spellman. He was a graduate of Lewiston High School, Boston College and Harvard Law School. He was a veteran of World War II, where he served as a navigator, and the Korean conflict. Spellman was admitted to the NH Bar in 1955. He began his law career that year as an associate with the Dover law firm that is now Burns, Bryant, Hinchey, Cox & Rockefeller. He then worked for Sulloway & Hollis in Concord before forming the Concord law firm Ransmeier & Spellman in 1979 with Joseph S. Ransmeier, John C. Ransmeier and Lawrence S. Smith. He retired from the firm in 1994. Spellman was a trial lawyer who did mainly insurance defense, medical malpractice and products liability work. John Ransmeier, who worked with Spellman for about 25 years, described him as "a really bright, highly regarded member of the NH trial bar." "The law was his love. Until the day he died, he was always interested in talking about the law and the firm and lawyers he knew. It really was his first interest," said Ransmeier. Ransmeier praised Spellman for having the unique ability and skill to be a trial lawyer. He recalls, for example, that Spellman would sometimes write out notes for a closing argument on the back of a business card, and somehow that closing would come out "perfectly structured, perfectly organized." "He had that kind of trial lawyer’s mind. The words all just came out," Ransmeier said. "He was well-suited to be a trial lawyer and did a great job at it." Ransmeier added that Spellman was excellent to work for – once named "Boss of the Year" for Merrimack County, he showed genuine caring and concern for the members of his law firm, according to Ransmeier. He also served as a mentor for younger attorneys. "He was great for young lawyers to work with, always supportive and a good teacher," Ransmeier said. In addition to being an exceptional lawyer, Spellman was also a "wonderful" person, according to Ransmeier. "He was a very caring, humane, generous human being," Ransmeier said. "He was a prince of a guy and it was a pleasure to get to work with him." Spellman served on the Bar’s Board of Governors and was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Superior Court mediator and a member of the American and Merrimack County bar associations. He was also a member of the Bishop Brady School Board. Spellman was very interested in aviation, although never a pilot. He flew model airplanes and did some aviation litigation in his law practice. He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn (Coogan) Spellman; a daughter, Moira Spellman; and a brother, John Spellman. Survivors include five daughters, Jane Spellman of Fayetteville, Ark.; Ann Spellman-Reading of Estero, Fla.; Ellen Spellman of Charlotte, N.C.; Lynn Spellman of Bow; and Sheila Tupper of Tampa, Fla. Memorial donations may be made to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, P.O. Box 1797, Concord 03302. In memory of our colleague Lawrence E. Spellman, the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Board of Governors has contributed to the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, 112 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301.
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