ALLUNY – Association of Law Libraries of Upstate New York

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news of the passing of our friend and colleague, Debbie Simonik, whom we lost on December 9^th. Debbie was a member of the Bousquet Holstein Law Firm in Ithaca for the last three years and a long-standing member of the ALLUNY law librarian community.  When ALLUNY needed volunteers in 2022 to keep the association going, Debbie stepped forward and enthusiastically served on both the Executive Board and the Annual Meeting Planning Committee during 2023 and 2024.  After sustaining a knee injury while visiting family for the 2023 holidays, she cruised through knee replacement in January, recuperated in Florida, and was delighted to get back to New York in March (in her words) in time to help run the Spring Institute! Debbie is survived by her three children, Christiane, Ian, and Joe, her grandson George, and many other family members. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. Condolences may be sent to Christiane and Kris Chanitz, 4134 Old Mill Cove Trail East, Jacksonville FL 32277.  

https://colemananddaniels.com/tribute/details/3320/Deborah-Simonik/obituary.html

Sent on behalf of the ALLUNY Executive Board

After two decades of dedication to the law library profession in upstate New York, Elaine M. Knecht will be retiring on December 31, 2024. She has made significant contributions to the field and currently serves as the Director of Information Resources at Barclay Damon, LLP in Buffalo, New York. Please join us in congratulating Elaine on her remarkable career and wishing her the very best in this next chapter! [originally posted to AALL and reprinted here with our sincere congratulations]

ALLUNY member Beth Adelman was awarded the rank of SUNY Distinguished Librarian, the first librarian at the University At Buffalo to receive this honor. Distinguished ranks are the highest rank in the state university system. Distinguished faculty serve as role models and give lectures and seminars, inform curricular reform, improve the overall academic experience of students, mentor junior faculty, and lead inquiry into issues of importance to SUNY and society. Once promoted, faculty are also inducted into the greater Distinguished Academy. 

 Warmest congratulations to Beth!!