Joseph L. FORSTADT

1940 - 2017

FORSTADT, Joseph L.
Joseph L. Forstadt, 77, loving husband, father, and grandfather; beloved friend, counsel, and mentor; a resident of Palm Beach, passed away on March 23rd. Born in New York City to Hyman and Ceile (Polansky) Forstadt, he was the first of his family to attend college, graduating from City College of NY in 1961. After attending New York University Law School, where he was elected President of his class, Mr. Forstadt served in City and State governmental posts, including, at age 28, as Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs in the administration of New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay. During that time, he also served as President of the State Association of Young Republican Clubs. In 1969, Mr. Forstadt joined the law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, where he became a litigation partner in 1975. Among his notable achievements were the relocation of the City's historic Fulton Fish Market to the Hunt's Point Food Center in the Bronx, and his lead representation of the Associations of Supreme Court Justices of the City and State of New York in defeating a federal constitutional challenge to the judicial selection process. Mr. Forstadt also served as the Owners' Representative on the New York City Rent Guidelines Board for 14 years under Mayors Koch, Dinkins, and Giuliani, and in 2008, he was elected as the first honorary member of the State and City Justices associations. He is survived by his wife Rona and his children Jonathan, Andrew, Erica, Elizabeth, and David; grandchildren Jillian, Nat, Benjamin, Jordan, William, Jack, Theodore, Jake, Justin, Josh, and Solon; his brother Freddy and sister Meryl. Funeral services will be held, Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at IJ Morris At Star Of David Cemetary located at 9321 Memorial Park Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33412. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palm Beach Synagogue.
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