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JACK NUSBAUM Obituary

NUSBAUM JACK H. NUSBAUM It is with great sadness that the partners, counsel, associates, and staff of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP mourn the passing of our partner, former Chairman and beloved friend, Jack H. Nusbaum, on January 11, 2021. Jack remained vibrant and fully involved in the Firm and in living life right up to the moment of his passing. He was starting his 50th year as a partner of Willkie. The Firm and its people meant the world to him, and his contributions to our Firm were unparalleled. He was responsible for building our culture of collegiality, tolerance and equity, and held us to the highest standards both professionally and personally. His many colleagues, clients and friends leaned on him regularly for his great wisdom and good cheer. Jack was a true senior statesman of the national M&A bar, an expert in corporate governance matters, and the consummate business lawyer whose guidance and judgment has been relied upon by boards of directors and clients in connection with a wide range of business and legal issues. He was a sage advisor and formidable adversary. Among Jack's many impressive attributes was his ability to maintain patience, determination and perspective. He was a gifted lawyer, manager, and rainmaker who cultivated important clients and worked on matters of great significance. He lived by, and encouraged others to live by, his "Golden Rules" of being a good lawyer and citizen: understand your client's needs, fulfill your responsibilities promptly and ethically, have respect for the other side's position, respect your role in society, and live your life the way you would like your children to live theirs. A self-described "dyed in the wool Willkie-ite" whose father had briefly worked as an associate at the Firm, Jack joined Willkie as an accounting clerk in 1962 and worked his way up to associate in 1965 and partner in 1971, eventually becoming Chairman. He served as Willkie's Chairman from 1987 through 2009, was a major contributor to the Firm's business, and was instrumental in the evolution of Willkie to what it has become today. Since stepping down as Chairman in January 2010, Jack maintained an active practice counseling clients on a wide range of matters. His sound judgment and voice of wisdom and experience remained sought after and relied upon by our Executive Committee, colleagues and clients. Jack developed an expertise in advising companies in acquisitions and mergers, and would become involved in the historic merger of NASDAQ with the American Stock Exchange; the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco; and the acquisition of McCaw Cellular Communications by AT&T. He also served as lead counsel on corporate internal investigations including responsibility for the often cited Cendant Report. Jack was a director of publicly held companies W. R. Berkley Corporation and Cowen Inc. and served as an advisor to the board of Citigroup. He also served as President of The Joseph Collins Foundation. Additionally, Jack was a member of the Legal Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors of the New York Stock Exchange and a member of the Board of Advisors of the New York University Center for Law & Business. He was a patron of many organizations, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Vassar College and Prep for Prep. He received a J.D. from Columbia School of Law in 1965 and a B.S. degree from The University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School in 1962. He was a member of the American Bar Association. A celebration of life will be held at a later time. Our sympathies are with his wife and our colleague Nora Ann Wallace, his son Gary and daughter-in-law Jennifer, his daughter Lisa, his grandchildren Andrew and Allison, and his step-grandchildren Andrew and Michael at this very sad time. Our sympathies are with his wife and our colleague Nora Ann Wallace, his son Gary and daughter-in-law Jennifer, his daughter Lisa, his grandchildren Andrew and Allison, and his step-grandchildren Andrew and Michael at this very sad time.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 14, 2021.

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Rita Jammet

January 10, 2025

Still miss Jack a great deal, he was a very unique and special human being. I´m sure he watches over Nora Ann and his family. I feel fortunate to have known Jack.

Vicki Baum

January 9, 2022

It´s hard to believe it´s a year since Jack´s passing. We were very close friends for a number of years. We were there for one another ie especially at difficult times such as our divorces. We shared long discussions about our children growing up and marrying & our role as parents.
I miss him as I know many others do also.

steve klein

January 22, 2021

Dear Nora-Ann- on behalf of everyone at PKF, I wanted to express my deepest condolences on the loss of your Dear Jack. I actually never had the pleasure of meeting him, but starting back in 1990 or so when I had the pleasure of working with then new partners Kristen van Riel, Daniel Payan, Jean-Luc Cuadrado and Bernard Le-Pezron and up through the point today where we have serviced pretty much all the foreign partners present and past, all I have heard is what a mench Jack was. He will be sorely missed by society.

I am so sorry.

May his memory be a blessing.

Steve, Ed, Dan and Ben

Simone Taylor

January 18, 2021

Please except my deepest sympathies to you and your family at this time of grieving. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Carol W. Waldenburg

January 18, 2021

To one of the finest gentlemen and mentors, I've ever known. I will miss you forever. Thank you for everything.

Vicki Baum

January 18, 2021

I am very sad to learn of Jack´s passing
He was a special friend over the years
I send my regrets to all family members

Rita and André Jammet

January 18, 2021

Our most heartfelt condolences and loving thoughts to Nora Ann and Jack's family. Our dear Friend Jack was an exceptional human being and incredibly accomplished professional. His smart advice has helped so many of us. We will treasure his loyal and loving friendship forever. May he Rest In Peace.

Maxime & Chounette BENCHETRIT

January 17, 2021

Nous garderons un merveilleux souvenir de Jack.
Toutes nos condoléances à sa famille.

Daniel Good

January 17, 2021

It is with great sadness that I learned of Jack's passing but also a reminder that I enjoyed knowing him for almost 40 years. A client's lawyer and a terrific human being. Our sympathy is heartfelt to Nora.

Raul Susrez

January 16, 2021

My deepest sympathy to his widow an may he rest in peace. He was a kind, warm man whom I had the pleasure of meeting through mutual friends.

Grove of 100 Memorial Trees

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Simone Taylor

January 15, 2021

Prayers and fond memories are what you have to remember your dearly departed. May the love of family and friends comfort you during these difficult days. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences.

Simone Taylor

January 15, 2021

Prayers and fond memories are what you have to remember your dearly departed. May the love of family and friends comfort you during these difficult days. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences.

Grove of 100 Memorial Trees

Janis Stanich

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Eileen Hickey

January 14, 2021

Jack was a wonderful friend. Nora Ann and the family are in my prayers.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Marie Lillis

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