Title
Honoring the life and legacy of trailblazing attorney Bernard Lee for his contributions to the practice of law, and his dedication to mentorship, family, and friends.
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WHEREAS, Bernard Lee was born on August 26, 1950 and grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and from a young age, demonstrated a commitment to, law and justice; and
WHEREAS, He demonstrated this commitment by partnering with friends to integrate the neighborhood pool at James Finnegan Playground during a time of economic hardship and racial segregation. In 1966, he traveled to Harrisburg with Mayor, Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode to advocate for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. At the same time, he starred on the John Bartram High School football team; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Bartram High School in 1968, he attended Lake Forest College on a full scholarship, graduating as president of his class; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Lake Forest, Bernard attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, graduating in 1977. A distinguished student, he served as one of the Law School's first African American legal writing instructors. At Penn, he met his future wife, Kathleen, with whom Bernard remained happily married for 47 years until his passing, and
WHEREAS, After law school, Bernard joined the real estate practice at the powerhouse Philadelphia law firm Wolf Block, later becoming the first African American Vice-Chairman at the firm. After Wolf Block disbanded, he joined the real estate group at Cozen O'Connor where he chaired the group and served as a shareholder; and
WHEREAS, Bernard's legal prowess was well known. He earned the respect of his colleagues, adversaries and clients with his wit, sharp thinking skills and calm demeanor. As a result, he was called to work on many significant transactions including One Liberty Place, Comcast Tower, Lincoln Financial Field and Sharon Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Bernard was widely recognized as a top lawyer, receiving a litany o...
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