M. BERNARD AIDINOFF

AIDINOFF--M. Bernard,

1929-2016 Merton Bernard (Bernie) Aidinoff of New York City, Amagansett, NY and Lyme, CT died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on August 8, 2016. He was 87 years old. Born in Newport, RI in 1929, Bernie remained a member of the Touro Synagogue community, returning regularly for the annual reading of George Washington's Letter to the Jews of Newport on religious tolerance. He graduated from the University of Michigan (Phi Beta Kappa) and the Harvard Law School (Magna Cum Laude) where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. A first lieutenant in the Army Judge Advocate General Corps, he then became a law clerk to Judge Learned Hand. Bernie joined the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell in 1956. An internationally respected tax expert, he loved the practice of law and took great pleasure in mentoring younger lawyers, before mentoring was a term. As chairman of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation, he testified multiple times before the Senate Finance Committee advocating for a progressive tax code. Bernie also served as chairman of the American Law Institute Tax Program Committee, as editor-in-chief of The Tax Lawyer, as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and on the Commissioner's Advisory Committee of the Internal Revenue Service. More than a tax specialist, Bernie was a trusted business advisor to the leadership of many clients including Goldman Sachs and British Petroleum. He served on several boards including American International Group and Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund. Dedicated to the rule of law, Bernie served as a leading board member at Human Rights First, Foundation for a Civil Society (chair), and the Harvard Law School Visiting Committee and Alumni Association (chair). He leaves a significant philanthropy legacy at organizations including Touro Synagogue Foundation (chair), St. Luke's Orchestra (chair), Guild Hall, East Hampton Historical Society, The Metropolitan Opera Association, and the Spence School. A committed Democrat, Bernie was counsel to the Clinton Legal Defense Fund. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Century Association, India House and the Metropolitan Club (Washington, DC). Bernie married Celia Spiro Aidinoff in 1956. They were returning from their honeymoon on the Andrea Doria when--despite his insistence that it was impossible--the ship began to sink. They were rescued by the Ile de France. Cissie predeceased him in 1984. Twelve years later, he fell in love with Elsie Vanderbilt Newburg. They were married Thanksgiving weekend, 1996, in Lyme, CT. He is survived by his wife, Elsie; his children, Seth (Lucie Livingston) Aidinoff, Gail (Ted) Aidinoff Scovell; his step-children, Michael Newburg, Anne Newburg, Daniel (Anna Smith) Newburg and Thomas (Catherine Featherston) Newburg; his sisters, Judith Aidinoff and Ruth Elkind; and many loving grandchildren, nephews and nieces. The funeral service will be private. A memorial service will be held in the fall. Contributions in his memory may be directed to: Storefront Academy Harlem (formerly The Children's Storefront), 70 E. 129th Street, New York, NY 10035 or Orchestra of St. Luke's, 450 West 37th Street, Suite 502, New York, NY 10018.