Elizabeth W. Pine

Pine, Elizabeth W.

Pittsford: Elizabeth W. Pine, 83, of Pittsford, a longtime State Supreme Court justice, died August 28, 2017. She had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease and colon cancer.

Born Elizabeth Woodruff in Saranac Lake, NY, she graduated from Smith College and Harvard Law School. She also completed a course in public administration at the universities of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

In 1961, she married Richard H. Pine. They moved to Rochester in 1963 when he was appointed the city's urban renewal director. She practiced law here until she was elected a Monroe County Family Court judge in 1973, leading to a 37-year career of public service. She often said Family Court was most important court she served in because decisions there affect individuals' entire lives.

She was elected to State Supreme Court in 1976, the first woman judge in the Seventh Judicial District. She served as a trial judge throughout the 8-county district as well as in Manhattan and the Bronx. In 1985, shortly after Richard Pine's death, she was appointed to the court's Appellate Division, where she served until her retirement in 2010.

Judge Pine was a member of the county, state and national bar associations, helped to found the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys, and was active in statewide committees concerned with jury instructions, juvenile justice, child welfare, legal ethics and professionalism. She was an officer, member or advisor of many organizations, including Boy Scouts, Monroe County Children's Alliance, Rochester Rotary, Downtown United Presbyterian Church and Rochester Institute of Technology College of Business.

When diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011, she volunteered for research programs and spoke at public programs sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association.

She had a lifelong love of the outdoors, especially her native Adirondack Mountains. Her summer camp in the Adirondacks was the site of annual family gatherings, where she served up her legendary blueberry pancakes, caught up on her pleasure reading, and enjoyed boating, games and hikes with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 22 years, John Rumsey; three daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Lee Chabowski of Brooklyn NY, Katherine and Joseph Duncan of Montclair NJ and Lisa Pine and Daniel Zier of Golden CO; stepchildren and spouses Anne and Tim Gearan of Washington DC and Charles and Teri Rumsey of Pittsford; grandchildren Micah Chabowski, Thomas, Owen and Madeline Duncan, and Claire Gearan; sisters Barbara Gould of Ruxton MD and Emily Woodruff of Arlington VA; cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family thanks Mary Abbazia, Ashley Bennett, Michele Richards, Lisa Smolensky, Julie Zapata and others who helped care for Betty through her illness. The family also thanks the staff of the Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center for their exceptional care of her in her last weeks.

Friends may call from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St., where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Gifts may be sent to Alzheimer's Association., 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester 14620; Downtown United Presbyterian Church, or a charity of your choice.