WHITNEY GERARD

1934 - 2022

GERARD--Whitney I. Whitney I. Gerard, an international corporate attorney and early promoter of European wine and food culture in the United States, died on June 25, 2022 at his home in Manhattan. He was 87. Mr. Gerard who began his career in the wine business in France, worked to popularize a greater appreciation of fine wine and food with American audiences. As an attorney, he represented many European wine and spirits brands, along with other international clientele, as a partner at both Alexander & Green and later at Chadbourne & Parke (now Norton Rose-Fulbright). Whitney Ian Gerard was born October 31, 1934, in Brooklyn, NY to Harold and Beatrice (Meyer) Gerard. Whitney attended Princeton University where he learned French and developed a love of French culture while working for S.S. Pierce, a French wine importer. While at Princeton, he joined the ROTC and upon graduation served as an Air Force Lieutenant stationed in Northern France. At the end of his military service, he remained in France to work for winemaker Alexis Lichine of the famed Chateau Lascombes in Bordeaux. Whitney's time in the wine business would later serve as the basis for many of his friendships, business relationships, and his love of European culture. At age 30, Whitney returned from Europe to attend Harvard Law School where his crowning achievement was his selection as the graduation commencement speaker. It was this speech that would later be the catalyst for an introduction to his future wife, Marion Lehane who was on a date with a Harvard classmate who recognized Whitney from his commencement address and introduced Whitney to his date and future wife. After graduating from Harvard Law in 1963, Whitney joined the law firm, Alexander & Green where he later became a partner. In 1985, Whitney joined Chadbourne & Parke as a partner in their international practice. Whitney stayed at Chadbourne for the rest of his career where he remained a partner until age 79, and of counsel until his retirement at 83. While at Chadbourne, he represented numerous corporations and individuals in Europe, Russia and the CIS doing business in the United States. Mr. Gerard's clientele included international companies engaging in activities as diverse as manufacturing, banking, software, media, defense, insurance, construction, and winemaking. He was also a director of several U.S. public companies, including Dreyfus (now New York Bank of Mellon) where he was a director emeritus until his death. Whitney's love of wine played a dominant role influencing his decision to accept the position of Chief Warder of the International Ancient Order of the Beefeater - a charity and American eating club established by Rudy Kopf, the Founder of Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits. Whitney was also a member of The University Club of New York for several decades. Known for his wit, loquaciousness and sound advice, Whitney was referred to by his long-term family friend and former head of the Maison Louis Latour, Louis Fabrice Latour as "le Sage." Whitney is survived by his wife, Marion and two sons, Ian and Stefan and three grandchildren, Skylar, Nico and Xander. Donations on his behalf can be made to the American Heart Association.