Fulbright & Jaworski, the full-service international law firm that serves the needs of businesses, governments, non-profit organizations and individual clients around the world. Fulbright is one of the largest law firms in the United States with nearly 1,000 lawyers and more than 50 integrated practice areas. There are sixteen Fulbright locations world-wide, with international locations in Beijing, London, Munich, Hong Kong, Dubai and Riyadh.
Fulbright has a growing list of honors for its representation of businesses, governments, non-profit organizations and individual clients across the globe, as well as for excellence in the legal profession.
Michael Gallin - Class of 2008 is a director of the John Gallin & Sons, Inc. the New York contruction management firm. Founded in 1886, John Gallin & Son provides quality, cost-effective construction management and general contracting services for commercial interiors for the New York corporate community.
Ulrich Gaillard - Class of 2005 is a director of the Batey Relief Alliance that was established in 1997 in the United States as a 501c3 tax-exempt humanitarian aid organization , his organization works closely with key international donors/partners committed to positive social change in the developing world. In 2000, BRA created its regional arm, BRA DOMINICANA, a Dominican-based non-governmental organization (NGO) charged to help carry out the mission of the Batey Relief Alliance inside the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Batey Relief Alliance is a member of the Global Health Council and is associated with the Department of Public Information—NGO of the United Nations.
Khedija Ghachem is originally from the Rotary Club of Chicago.
Susanne Gellert class of 2008 is a director of the Legal department of the German American chanber of Commerce, Inc.
Dean Georges owner of Irene Hayes Wadley & Smyhe LeMoult One of New York's oldest and most famous Florist.
If any member of our club is synonymous with his Rotary Classification, it is Dean Georges, our club florist. You may not have had the pleasure of getting to know Dean, as I have, but YOU have benefited by his membership at every meeting you attend. Each and every week, Dean generously arranges and delivers the flowers that sit at the podium. Is this Service Above Self or what?
Dean was introduced to the Rotary Club of Rockaway by his Rotarian father, John, also a florist in Rockaway, Queens. He has been around the flower business since age 8 and attended occasional Rotary meetings back then, too.
Dean has four children and is very proud of each of them. Son John and Daughter Jennifer are Special Ed Teachers in Woodside and Brooklyn respectively. Son Robby is an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and Son Christopher works for Bank of America in Mergers and Acquisitions in Manhattan..
From 1956-58, Dean served in the Army. After his initial training, he was assigned to a base in Southern France. He says he loved that duty station and was fortunate to serve in a time of peace…after Korean and before Viet Nam. When he returned from active duty with the army in 1958, Dean took over his dad’s business joined the Rotary Club of Rockaway in 1964. There he maintained per attendance and served as president from 1968-69.
In 1976, Dean bought a partnership interest in a second business, called Irene Hayes Wadley & Smythe Flowers owned by Rotarian Tony Micelli and located at Park & 58th. Tony had been sending weekly flowers to our Rotary meetings for 32 years, so, Hey! Why stop a good thing? In 1980, Dean moved “Irene Hayes” Flowers to Rockefeller Center. (The “roots” of Irene Hayes Wadley & Smythe Flowers goes back to 1865.)
In the old days, Dean enjoyed seeing fellow Rotarians going to and from Rotary meetings right around his store at Rockefeller Center.
In 2006, Dean moved to 30 East 30th Street where his business continues to rank in the top 100 FTD florists in the United States. (That’s top 100 out of 20,000 florists nationwide.) He has achieved this distinction every year since 1977.
Rotary goes deep in Dean’s family. Dean shares two stories where Rotary helped his family.
About 1953/54, Greece experienced a devastating earthquake that damaged the home of Dean’s Aunt. The tragedy caused financial havoc as well. Dean’s Aunt was not able to arrange for financing to repair her home so she reached out to Dean’s Father, a Rotarian. In the Rotary International directory, Dean’s father located the name of the Rotary President in his sister’s town and, through the Rotarian President, was able to arrange a loan from a Rotarian Banker in that club.
Another time in 1948, Dean’s father and mother were returning from a Florist’s convention in Florida. Around St. Augustine, an approaching truck crossed the middle line and slammed into their car. Dean’s mother was severely injured and it required a 6 month hospital stay. The EMS at the scene asked Dean’s father if he needed help and he said “Please get me a Greek Orthodox Priest and a Rotarian.” Dean’s mother and father had their spiritual needs taken care of by the Priest and the St. Augustine Rotarians took care of the rest. Rotary assistance made this tragedy a little easier to bear.
Dean loves to travel. One of his recent trips was to the World War II battlefields at Normandy. On the same trip, Dean returned to the site of the ordinance depot where he served 50 years ago. “It was fascinating!” he says.
If his spirit, in his weekly flowers, counts as a “meeting make up” he has perfect attendance for over 43 years! (Dean is a one time Paul Harris fellow since 1987.)
John L.German Class of 2003 is the Director of Non-Profit Computing, Inc. Since 1984, this all-volunteer organization best known for arranging computer donations, procurement, and logistics worldwide
John is also the Main Representative to the United Nations Member of the Board of Trustees People to People International (founded by President Eisenhower) that includes the Committee on Disability. He is also associated with the Technical Subgroup of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on Informatics (informally, the Working Group on Informatics), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),and a Senior Advisor United Nations Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development and the United Nations Global Compact.
Taylor Gray Class of 1999 is the Executive Vice Presdient of Analytic Asset Management Inc.,
the company of seasoned investment professionals. Their seven portfolio managers, all of whom do analytical research, collectively have over 200 years experience with asset management. With their foremost goal is to be protective of our clients’ assets with a conservative, balanced approach.
Sergei Gorbunov Class of 2000 is an economist with the United Nations Secretariat.
Suzzane Gellert Class of 2008 was born in Hannover, Germany: a city well known for its international trade fair, and went to high school there. She also spent one year in West Palm Beach, Florida and received her US high school diploma. Having completed herlegal studies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Suzanne was admitted to the Bar in Germany in 2006. Additionally, she has studied and practiced law in Spain and was able to attain multi-lingual skills in German, English, Spanish and French.
Since the beginning of her legal studies, it has always been Suzanne's goal to pursue an international career. This, coupled with a desire to seek new professional challenges, led her to the German-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City where she is currently the head of the Legal Department. For sixty years the German American Chamber of Commerce has promoted bilateral business relations between the United States and Germany. During this time, the Chamber has evolved into one of the most innovative providers of services for German-American trade.
As the head of the Legal Department, Suzzane deals daily with a multitude of international legal issues in the area of German-American business development, being supported by a very capable team of law clerks from Germany. Needless to say, Suzzane finds the work is fascinating, especially the cross-cultural aspects of it.
Presently she is pursuing a Fordham LL.M. which will enable her to expand her legal knowledge and experience, and provide a balanced skills-set for dealing more effectively with German-American legal matters.
Working here in New York City and successfully expanding the legal services that the German-American Association are offering is something Suzzane is very proud of. And looking for an opportunity to give back Suzzane is an active member in a number of community and international service projects of the Rotary Club of New York.
Edward W. T. Gray III
Class of 1993 “The Play’s the Thing” The scene is Princeton University’s campus and the leading man is Ed Grey, who will join Rotary in 1993, and yet is not sure where life will take him as he poises to graduate. One thing is sure. Ed Gray likes to write.
In every good play, there is suspense and a war is looming in this tale, and its impact is life changing. Our Rotary hero chose the Coast Guard and upon completing his service, married, and regretfully bid goodbye to his writing career. In our character’s words, writing just couldn’t support a family.
Ed Gray may not have written a play back then, but he crafted a life that would win any prize for success. Turning to the investment business, his competitive spirit combined with his love of research and his winning personal nature. The cast of characters in this tale includes his many satisfied clients. He describes his career as “gratifying” and feels the thrill of seeing his clients succeed in meeting their financial goals. His grateful clients benefit not only from Ed’s genuine nature, but his keen awareness of stocks and portfolios.
In our story’s turning point, a new character appears, Larry Parks, who introduced Ed to New York Rotary winning him from another service organization. Ed’s rise through the ranks was quite quick. In a few years, he became President for 1999-2000! It’s amazing to know that this respected Rotarian describes his first months in Rotary as “awkward” at first. He smiles as cites Jim Morita, Arcadio, and our current President as his models for Rotary service and for socializing! Ed’s service has been focused on the Foundation in these past years. His efforts have powered the group to far reaching service and contribution in difficult times such as through 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. As the leader of the Foundation, Ed’s been most proud of his effort to broker relationships between the Foundation and the club membership, making the Foundation seem less a separate entity.
As in most stories, the twists and turns make the tale interesting. In this tale, our former university basketball star, now returns to his roots of writing and currently is engaged in developing his love of the written word—especially the play! When you sit with Ed at lunch or with his Rotarian son, Taylor, they will be able to talk more than their financial business. They can report on the progress of Ed’s recent play. After many years, Ed finally has the chance to develop his skill and passion for writing. He is enjoying every minute.
This is no means Ed’s final act. He remains active along with his wife, Michelle, an attorney, in sports and social activities related to Rotary, and he is dedicated to his family. In addition to his son, Taylor, Ed is the proud father of Peter, an attorney with his own practice in Brooklyn Heights, and Carolyn, the Director of Foundation Relations at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Ed Gray is now writing his next chapter. Who knows what further ideas and visions will come to the page as Ed, a most respected Rotarian, finally turns his eye toward the art of writing. Author! Author! Bravo.
Joesph Groveman
Class of 1969
