The Carbon County Bar Association held a dinner Friday evening honoring seven local attorneys who have each served the area in the legal profession for more than 50 years. The program was held at Blue Mountain Ski Resort, Palmerton.

The honorees included Michael J. Garfield, Michael L. Ozalas, Anthony Roberti, William G. Schwab, Joseph J. Velitsky, Steven J. Hartz, and Gary F. Dobias. Hartz and Dobias were not present. An eighth attorney, David Shulman, will be honored at a future event.

“It’s a remarkable milestone that we are celebrating tonight,” said Jason M. Rapa, the emcee for the evening. “I think you can all understand how impressive it is for someone to be in the practice of law for 50 years.”

Theresa Hall presented citations to each on behalf of state Sen. David Argall and Rep. Doyle Heffley.

The honorees

William G. Schwab

“Bill has had an impressive legal career; but that’s not what makes his 50 years so special,” said Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek, who introduced Schwab. “He has served as a great mentor, giving many of us in this room our first jobs, myself included. He taught us how to be lawyers.”

Greek pointed out Schwab’s pro bono work, especially when he represented the Borough of Jim Thorpe in 2013, arguing against the relocation of Jim Thorpe’s remains.

“I want to thank the Bar Association for the dinner tonight,” Schwab said. “There are so many of you that the idea of being in my office was that you could grow. You could learn what needs to be done to be a great lawyer.”

Schwab graduated from the Beasley School of Law of Temple University in 1976. His first job was managing attorney for the Carbon County Office of Legal Services of Northeastern Pa. He joined Mackson and Turczin in Palmerton, before starting his own practice in 1978. Schwab and his wife, Joyce, have been married 53 years and live in East Penn Township, and have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Joseph J. Velitsky

“It’s been great for me to have someone in the office with more than 50 years of experience, to bounce ideas off of, and to ask questions,” Attorney Robert Frycklund said as he spoke about Velitsky. “Joe had been the county solicitor for 15 years, as I am now.”

“I want to thank the Bar Association for the honor tonight,” Velitsky said. “It’s been a privilege to work in Carbon County. What a difference I have seen from my start in practice in 1970.”

Velitsky is a lifetime resident of Summit Hill, graduated from Marian Catholic High School in 1962. He received a Juris Doctor Degree from the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle in 1970.

Anthony Roberti

“His first job was with Martin H. Phillip Law Office,” Roberti’s son Attorney Kim Roberti explained. “In 1975, 50 years ago this year, he went out into his own practice, and has been in the same office ever since. In 1980, he decided to open Paramount Abstract, which has become a big focus of our business. Since then, we’ve had somewhere between 27,000 and 30,000 closings over the years.”

“What it was like to be a new lawyer in Carbon County in 1972,” Anthony Roberti said. “It was when W.T. Grant was at the (Carbon Plaza) mall. When we met at Trainers Inn, which has since burned down. When we were designated an underserved community for medical purposes, and now we have two new hospitals.”

Roberti worked for Martin H. Phillip for 10 months, then worked for Nanovic & McKinley until they separated, then opened his own office in 1975. He and his wife, Katherine have been married for than 50 years and reside in Palmerton. They have four sons, 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Michael Garfield

“Among all the sayings and life lessons you’ve taught me,” Attorney Kelly Jamison said, “you always say, ‘there is no winning, kid. There’s just lesser degrees of losing.”

“The people that we work with in government area great,” Garfield said. “You work with people in the courthouse, you work with all those people, you work with the people in your office. Much as I never really had a passion for it, it was good, and I’m glad that I’ve met all of you.”

Garfield graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in 1974. He worked briefly for the late Attorney Martin H. Phillip, the opened a private practice in Jim Thorpe in 1975. He served as first Assistant District Attorney for Carbon County, and represented many Carbon County offices. Garfield served with many area organizations such as the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, the American Cancer Society telethon, Rafting Against Cancer, and served his country in the Army Reserve and the National Guard.

Michael Ozalas

“Mike has an unquenchable desire to learn about the law, to learn about the law practice, and law practice management,” Attorney Tom Nanovic said, “and, I think he found in me a willing recipient of his lessons.”

“I look back over 50 years, and I do have a lot to be grateful for,” Ozalas said. “I’m grateful for my clients, who trusted me to represent them. I’m grateful to my office staff. I’m grateful to my family for putting up with the late night hours and being away from home. But I’m most grateful to you, my colleagues, who have helped me when I needed help with something, and challenged me.”

Ozalas graduated in 1971 from Lafayette College with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He later attended Villanova University and earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1974. He served as a patent attorney, and became an associate at the former Nanovic & McKinley Law Firm in Jim Thorpe, and later became a partner in the Ozalas & McKinley Law Firm.

He served as a solicitor for the Carbon County Sheriff’s office, Children & Youth, Recorder of Deeds, and for the county commissioners; as well as for the former Palmerton Hospital, and the Borough of Palmerton.

Gary Dobias

Attorney Kara Beck spoke on behalf of Dobias, who could not attend the dinner. Beck read a letter on his half.

“Thank you for the recognition as practicing attorney in Carbon County for 50 years. I regret not being able to attend this event. However, I would like to briefly share my thoughts on this special occasion. I love being a lawyer; I could not imagine doing anything else.

“For me, it was the best job in the world. While I enjoyed a varied law practice for many years, it was the greatest privilege in my professional career to represent the people of Carbon County as District Attorney.”

Gary Dobias obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis in 1974 and opened a private practice in Jim Thorpe. He served as a solicitor for numerous municipalities and authorities, and served 45 years as a prosecutor in the Carbon County District Attorney’s office. He served as the District Attorney for 23 years.

Steven Hartz

Attorney Armin Feldman also spoke on behalf of Steven Hartz, who was not present at the dinner.

According to Feldman, Hartz attended Oxford University, although law was not his major. He did not attend a regular law school.

“He had the chutzpah to apply to take the bar exam; because, his undergraduate degree at Oxford was in law,” Feldman explained. “He took the exam, and he passed. The one thing about Steve, for those who know him; he truly is an honest, forthright, friendly, wonderful person to be around.”

Steven Hartz had a solo practice in Philadelphia and Chester Counties before relocating to Carbon County in 1975. He joined the Martin H. Phillip Law Office, and was law clerk for Judge John P. Lavelle.

Hartz currently has a private practice in wills, estates, and commercial transactions.