Robert SATTER

SATTER, Robert


Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert Satter of Avon died on January 16, 2012, at the age of 92. He was a highly respected jurist, former Connecticut legislator, community activist, author, proud liberal, lifelong Red Sox fan, great celebrator of Thanksgiving and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Born on August 19, 1919, in Chicago to Patty and Henry Satter, Bob was the oldest of six children. He grew up during the Depression in Cranston, New Jersey, where he excelled as a scholar and athlete. His family had little money, but the Roosevelt administration's moratorium on home foreclosures allowed them to stay in that middle-class town. A Roosevelt Democrat his whole life, Bob believed that government should act to help people in need. Bob worked his way through Rutgers College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He played on the Rutgers tennis team and continued to compete in tennis into his 80s. During World War II, Bob enlisted in the Navy and served as a gunnery officer on battleships in the Pacific. He described his service as "many routine months at sea, punctuated by spasms of action: bombarding islands in support of invasions, repulsing air attacks, engaging in one major ship-to-ship battle." On long watches at night, he memorized Shakespeare—which he would quote frequently throughout his life—and learned the constellations. Bob earned his law degree at Columbia University and practiced in New York City before forming the law firm of Satter and Ritter in Hartford. His law partners included George Ritter, Jon Newman (who later served as a federal appellate judge) and Karl Fleishmann. Bob handled cases of all kinds. He took particular pride in his work on behalf of labor unions and the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. Bob married Ruth Lyttle in 1946 and together they raised four children. They took their family camping each summer and enjoyed many biking trips together in European countries, often pitching their tents in farmers' fields. They organized trips to Tanglewood each summer with their friends, a tradition that has continued for decades. An early proponent of women's rights, Bob encouraged Ruth to pursue a graduate degree and career in botany. During the final years of her life, he lovingly cared for her. They were married for 42 years, until her death in 1989. Bob served three terms in the Connecticut Legislature in the late 1950s and early 1960s. While he did not succeed in his efforts to end the death sentence, he did prevail in passing a bill that prohibited sentences of life without parole and another measure that requires a two-part verdict in capital cases. Bob personally became involved in the cases of two men convicted of murder. One of them was released from jail with Bob's help after serving decades of his sentence and went on to lead an upstanding life. Bob presided at the man's wedding and stayed in touch with him throughout the rest of his life. Bob served in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the counsel to Connecticut's Democratic party, drafting bills at the Legislature. He taught a course about the legislative process at the University of Connecticut Law School for more than 25 years. His book on that topic, "Under the Gold Dome," is given to all of Connecticut's freshman legislators. In 1975, Bob was appointed as a state judge. Over his 36-year judicial career, he heard everything from criminal cases to foreclosures. Other judges often sought his advice. His book, "Doing Justice," published in 1990 by Random House, described the thought and ethics that went into his judicial decision-making. He continued serving on the bench until October 6, 2011, two days before he entered the hospital. In 1993, Bob married Phyllis Johnson. They enjoyed a rich intellectual life, many years of companionship and a spirited cribbage competition. In Bob's final years, she was his devoted caregiver. Bob's community activities include serving as an officer of the Hartford Community Renewal Team (an anti-poverty agency), and on the board of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, several foundation boards and many other organizations. He participated for many decades in a writers group, a judges' group, a book group and a poker group. He was a great friend and role model to people of all ages. Bob leaves his wife, Phyllis; his sisters, Barbara Trubin and Joan Merle, his children, Dick Satter, Mimi Satter and her husband, Terry Mundy, Shoshana Hoose, and Jane Satter and her husband, David Vernon; his grandchildren, Bryan, Andrew, Hannah, Julia, Lily, Rosa, Ruby, Nate, Zoe and Molly; his great-grandchildren, Celina and Rex; and his stepsons, Brian and Jory Johnson, and their families.
Funeral services will be private. A memorial service will be held on February 11, at 1 p.m. in the Connecticut state capitol building. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to a cause dear to Bob's heart: helping released prisoners get back on their feet, by contributing to Community Partners in Action, 100 Bartholomew Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.