Emerson R. Avery Jr., 52, of Cortland, N.Y., died Feb. 25, 2007. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Wright-Beard Funeral Home of Cortland.
Avery remembered as dedicated judge
By COREY PRESTON
Staff Reporter
[email protected]
A dedicated judge, a talented lawyer, a great husband, father and family man — all are used to describe Emerson R. Avery Jr., a former Cortland County judge who died Sunday at the age of 52 after a debilitating illness.
But "unbeatable foosball player?"
"You could not beat Emerson — he could beat you one-handed, against two people — he was a foosball player to the 10th degree," said John Wickwire, a longtime friend. "Emerson was just a great friend, a joy to be around."
The image friends and colleagues paint of Avery is a dual one: a fun-loving cutup who enjoyed countless memorable weekends fishing in Canada or scuba-diving with friends, and a professional who took seriously the responsibilities that come with practicing law.
"I can remember at the end of a long day, him and I talking, and I remember how troubled Emerson seemed; he was really struggling with whether he'd made the right decision (regarding the placement of a juvenile in a detention facility)," said County Judge William Ames. "That's just the way he was — very diligent, very earnest in his work."
Ames called Avery "one of the hardest working judges I've ever known, certainly one of the best," and credited Avery with essentially creating his job, a second county judgeship that Ames filled in 1999.
"There was always traditionally just one county judge, but after Emerson was elected he lobbied hard with the local Legislature and with Albany to create a second judgeship — he could see the way the numbers were going, that we needed that," Ames said.
Before the second judge was added, a petition in Family Court might not have gone before a judge for five or six weeks, Ames said. Now most petitions are heard in a matter of days.
"It's really been a godsend for the people of Cortland. We're really providing more efficient service, and that's all because of Judge Avery," Ames said.
Avery, a Homer native, served as both an assistant district attorney and a public defender for the county, before running for county judge in 1995.
A Republican running without the support of his party, which had endorsed another candidate, Avery's decision to run as the underdog and his ability to ultimately win were admirable, said attorney Don Armstrong, a close friend who worked on Avery's campaign.
"He had practiced with his father (Emerson Avery Sr.) for years, and I think he was torn because he didn't want to give that up, and he knew that running for office can take a toll on your family," Armstrong said. "But Emerson just felt strongly that he had something to offer the community, and I think it was remarkable that he put himself out there and took that chance."
Avery was able to overcome the lack of party support because of his close ties to the community, said Marty Mack, one of his closest friends.
"He was such an outgoing guy, he was so committed to community service most of the community already knew him; they knew his qualities and knew he'd give every case the attention it deserved," said Mack, who now works in Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration.
Avery was also someone who, although he was interested and participated in the political process, was not confined by party politics, Mack pointed out.
During Mack's run for mayor in 1987, Avery served as campaign manager, and once Mack was elected, Avery was appointed the city's corporation council.
"That raised a bit of a fuss because some people felt that a Democratic mayor shouldn't be appointing a Republican, but Emerson was someone I trusted," Mack said. "I think the fact that Emerson, even supporting someone for mayor, wasn't looking at party affiliation, really set the tone we were going for at that time."
Avery and Mack became friends when the two were not long removed from law school, Avery a public defender and Mack an assistant district attorney.
"I got to know him kicking around the courts late at night, and we got to be close," Mack said.
The two, along with Armstrong and a handful of other close friends, became avid scuba divers, hunters — "He was the hunter, I was more of a distraction," Mack said. — and went on annual fishing trips to a family fishing camp in Canada that Avery treasured.
"He had a sign up there that said, ‘Heaven on Earth,' and to him, to his dad, to anyone lucky enough to be brought up there, that's what it was," Armstrong said.
All of Avery's friends said that, although he always took his work seriously, he also possessed a hearty and sometimes wicked sense of humor.
"He was a great practical joker," Ames said. "We'd receive court orders, I don't know how many a day, and he'd always stick things in my pile to slow me down, give me a hard time."
An undisclosed illness forced Avery to step down from his judgeship in 2003, with three years remaining on his 10-year term. Mack called his shortened career, and life, tragic, but said that Avery would leave a lasting legacy.
"First and foremost, he was just a terrific public servant in every sense of the word," Mack said. "He was always enthusiastic and energetic, always joyful, and he really gave everything, 100 percent, to whatever he was taking on."
Avery remembered as dedicated judge
By COREY PRESTON
Staff Reporter
[email protected]
A dedicated judge, a talented lawyer, a great husband, father and family man — all are used to describe Emerson R. Avery Jr., a former Cortland County judge who died Sunday at the age of 52 after a debilitating illness.
But "unbeatable foosball player?"
"You could not beat Emerson — he could beat you one-handed, against two people — he was a foosball player to the 10th degree," said John Wickwire, a longtime friend. "Emerson was just a great friend, a joy to be around."
The image friends and colleagues paint of Avery is a dual one: a fun-loving cutup who enjoyed countless memorable weekends fishing in Canada or scuba-diving with friends, and a professional who took seriously the responsibilities that come with practicing law.
"I can remember at the end of a long day, him and I talking, and I remember how troubled Emerson seemed; he was really struggling with whether he'd made the right decision (regarding the placement of a juvenile in a detention facility)," said County Judge William Ames. "That's just the way he was — very diligent, very earnest in his work."
Ames called Avery "one of the hardest working judges I've ever known, certainly one of the best," and credited Avery with essentially creating his job, a second county judgeship that Ames filled in 1999.
"There was always traditionally just one county judge, but after Emerson was elected he lobbied hard with the local Legislature and with Albany to create a second judgeship — he could see the way the numbers were going, that we needed that," Ames said.
Before the second judge was added, a petition in Family Court might not have gone before a judge for five or six weeks, Ames said. Now most petitions are heard in a matter of days.
"It's really been a godsend for the people of Cortland. We're really providing more efficient service, and that's all because of Judge Avery," Ames said.
Avery, a Homer native, served as both an assistant district attorney and a public defender for the county, before running for county judge in 1995.
A Republican running without the support of his party, which had endorsed another candidate, Avery's decision to run as the underdog and his ability to ultimately win were admirable, said attorney Don Armstrong, a close friend who worked on Avery's campaign.
"He had practiced with his father (Emerson Avery Sr.) for years, and I think he was torn because he didn't want to give that up, and he knew that running for office can take a toll on your family," Armstrong said. "But Emerson just felt strongly that he had something to offer the community, and I think it was remarkable that he put himself out there and took that chance."
Avery was able to overcome the lack of party support because of his close ties to the community, said Marty Mack, one of his closest friends.
"He was such an outgoing guy, he was so committed to community service most of the community already knew him; they knew his qualities and knew he'd give every case the attention it deserved," said Mack, who now works in Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration.
Avery was also someone who, although he was interested and participated in the political process, was not confined by party politics, Mack pointed out.
During Mack's run for mayor in 1987, Avery served as campaign manager, and once Mack was elected, Avery was appointed the city's corporation council.
"That raised a bit of a fuss because some people felt that a Democratic mayor shouldn't be appointing a Republican, but Emerson was someone I trusted," Mack said. "I think the fact that Emerson, even supporting someone for mayor, wasn't looking at party affiliation, really set the tone we were going for at that time."
Avery and Mack became friends when the two were not long removed from law school, Avery a public defender and Mack an assistant district attorney.
"I got to know him kicking around the courts late at night, and we got to be close," Mack said.
The two, along with Armstrong and a handful of other close friends, became avid scuba divers, hunters — "He was the hunter, I was more of a distraction," Mack said. — and went on annual fishing trips to a family fishing camp in Canada that Avery treasured.
"He had a sign up there that said, ‘Heaven on Earth,' and to him, to his dad, to anyone lucky enough to be brought up there, that's what it was," Armstrong said.
All of Avery's friends said that, although he always took his work seriously, he also possessed a hearty and sometimes wicked sense of humor.
"He was a great practical joker," Ames said. "We'd receive court orders, I don't know how many a day, and he'd always stick things in my pile to slow me down, give me a hard time."
An undisclosed illness forced Avery to step down from his judgeship in 2003, with three years remaining on his 10-year term. Mack called his shortened career, and life, tragic, but said that Avery would leave a lasting legacy.
"First and foremost, he was just a terrific public servant in every sense of the word," Mack said. "He was always enthusiastic and energetic, always joyful, and he really gave everything, 100 percent, to whatever he was taking on."
Emerson R. Avery Jr., 52, of Cortland, N.Y., died Feb. 25, 2007. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Wright-Beard Funeral Home of Cortland.
Avery remembered as dedicated judge
By COREY PRESTON
Staff Reporter
[email protected]
A dedicated judge, a talented lawyer, a great husband, father and family man — all are used to describe Emerson R. Avery Jr., a former Cortland County judge who died Sunday at the age of 52 after a debilitating illness.
But "unbeatable foosball player?"
"You could not beat Emerson — he could beat you one-handed, against two people — he was a foosball player to the 10th degree," said John Wickwire, a longtime friend. "Emerson was just a great friend, a joy to be around."
The image friends and colleagues paint of Avery is a dual one: a fun-loving cutup who enjoyed countless memorable weekends fishing in Canada or scuba-diving with friends, and a professional who took seriously the responsibilities that come with practicing law.
"I can remember at the end of a long day, him and I talking, and I remember how troubled Emerson seemed; he was really struggling with whether he'd made the right decision (regarding the placement of a juvenile in a detention facility)," said County Judge William Ames. "That's just the way he was — very diligent, very earnest in his work."
Ames called Avery "one of the hardest working judges I've ever known, certainly one of the best," and credited Avery with essentially creating his job, a second county judgeship that Ames filled in 1999.
"There was always traditionally just one county judge, but after Emerson was elected he lobbied hard with the local Legislature and with Albany to create a second judgeship — he could see the way the numbers were going, that we needed that," Ames said.
Before the second judge was added, a petition in Family Court might not have gone before a judge for five or six weeks, Ames said. Now most petitions are heard in a matter of days.
"It's really been a godsend for the people of Cortland. We're really providing more efficient service, and that's all because of Judge Avery," Ames said.
Avery, a Homer native, served as both an assistant district attorney and a public defender for the county, before running for county judge in 1995.
A Republican running without the support of his party, which had endorsed another candidate, Avery's decision to run as the underdog and his ability to ultimately win were admirable, said attorney Don Armstrong, a close friend who worked on Avery's campaign.
"He had practiced with his father (Emerson Avery Sr.) for years, and I think he was torn because he didn't want to give that up, and he knew that running for office can take a toll on your family," Armstrong said. "But Emerson just felt strongly that he had something to offer the community, and I think it was remarkable that he put himself out there and took that chance."
Avery was able to overcome the lack of party support because of his close ties to the community, said Marty Mack, one of his closest friends.
"He was such an outgoing guy, he was so committed to community service most of the community already knew him; they knew his qualities and knew he'd give every case the attention it deserved," said Mack, who now works in Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration.
Avery was also someone who, although he was interested and participated in the political process, was not confined by party politics, Mack pointed out.
During Mack's run for mayor in 1987, Avery served as campaign manager, and once Mack was elected, Avery was appointed the city's corporation council.
"That raised a bit of a fuss because some people felt that a Democratic mayor shouldn't be appointing a Republican, but Emerson was someone I trusted," Mack said. "I think the fact that Emerson, even supporting someone for mayor, wasn't looking at party affiliation, really set the tone we were going for at that time."
Avery and Mack became friends when the two were not long removed from law school, Avery a public defender and Mack an assistant district attorney.
"I got to know him kicking around the courts late at night, and we got to be close," Mack said.
The two, along with Armstrong and a handful of other close friends, became avid scuba divers, hunters — "He was the hunter, I was more of a distraction," Mack said. — and went on annual fishing trips to a family fishing camp in Canada that Avery treasured.
"He had a sign up there that said, ‘Heaven on Earth,' and to him, to his dad, to anyone lucky enough to be brought up there, that's what it was," Armstrong said.
All of Avery's friends said that, although he always took his work seriously, he also possessed a hearty and sometimes wicked sense of humor.
"He was a great practical joker," Ames said. "We'd receive court orders, I don't know how many a day, and he'd always stick things in my pile to slow me down, give me a hard time."
An undisclosed illness forced Avery to step down from his judgeship in 2003, with three years remaining on his 10-year term. Mack called his shortened career, and life, tragic, but said that Avery would leave a lasting legacy.
"First and foremost, he was just a terrific public servant in every sense of the word," Mack said. "He was always enthusiastic and energetic, always joyful, and he really gave everything, 100 percent, to whatever he was taking on."
Avery remembered as dedicated judge
By COREY PRESTON
Staff Reporter
[email protected]
A dedicated judge, a talented lawyer, a great husband, father and family man — all are used to describe Emerson R. Avery Jr., a former Cortland County judge who died Sunday at the age of 52 after a debilitating illness.
But "unbeatable foosball player?"
"You could not beat Emerson — he could beat you one-handed, against two people — he was a foosball player to the 10th degree," said John Wickwire, a longtime friend. "Emerson was just a great friend, a joy to be around."
The image friends and colleagues paint of Avery is a dual one: a fun-loving cutup who enjoyed countless memorable weekends fishing in Canada or scuba-diving with friends, and a professional who took seriously the responsibilities that come with practicing law.
"I can remember at the end of a long day, him and I talking, and I remember how troubled Emerson seemed; he was really struggling with whether he'd made the right decision (regarding the placement of a juvenile in a detention facility)," said County Judge William Ames. "That's just the way he was — very diligent, very earnest in his work."
Ames called Avery "one of the hardest working judges I've ever known, certainly one of the best," and credited Avery with essentially creating his job, a second county judgeship that Ames filled in 1999.
"There was always traditionally just one county judge, but after Emerson was elected he lobbied hard with the local Legislature and with Albany to create a second judgeship — he could see the way the numbers were going, that we needed that," Ames said.
Before the second judge was added, a petition in Family Court might not have gone before a judge for five or six weeks, Ames said. Now most petitions are heard in a matter of days.
"It's really been a godsend for the people of Cortland. We're really providing more efficient service, and that's all because of Judge Avery," Ames said.
Avery, a Homer native, served as both an assistant district attorney and a public defender for the county, before running for county judge in 1995.
A Republican running without the support of his party, which had endorsed another candidate, Avery's decision to run as the underdog and his ability to ultimately win were admirable, said attorney Don Armstrong, a close friend who worked on Avery's campaign.
"He had practiced with his father (Emerson Avery Sr.) for years, and I think he was torn because he didn't want to give that up, and he knew that running for office can take a toll on your family," Armstrong said. "But Emerson just felt strongly that he had something to offer the community, and I think it was remarkable that he put himself out there and took that chance."
Avery was able to overcome the lack of party support because of his close ties to the community, said Marty Mack, one of his closest friends.
"He was such an outgoing guy, he was so committed to community service most of the community already knew him; they knew his qualities and knew he'd give every case the attention it deserved," said Mack, who now works in Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration.
Avery was also someone who, although he was interested and participated in the political process, was not confined by party politics, Mack pointed out.
During Mack's run for mayor in 1987, Avery served as campaign manager, and once Mack was elected, Avery was appointed the city's corporation council.
"That raised a bit of a fuss because some people felt that a Democratic mayor shouldn't be appointing a Republican, but Emerson was someone I trusted," Mack said. "I think the fact that Emerson, even supporting someone for mayor, wasn't looking at party affiliation, really set the tone we were going for at that time."
Avery and Mack became friends when the two were not long removed from law school, Avery a public defender and Mack an assistant district attorney.
"I got to know him kicking around the courts late at night, and we got to be close," Mack said.
The two, along with Armstrong and a handful of other close friends, became avid scuba divers, hunters — "He was the hunter, I was more of a distraction," Mack said. — and went on annual fishing trips to a family fishing camp in Canada that Avery treasured.
"He had a sign up there that said, ‘Heaven on Earth,' and to him, to his dad, to anyone lucky enough to be brought up there, that's what it was," Armstrong said.
All of Avery's friends said that, although he always took his work seriously, he also possessed a hearty and sometimes wicked sense of humor.
"He was a great practical joker," Ames said. "We'd receive court orders, I don't know how many a day, and he'd always stick things in my pile to slow me down, give me a hard time."
An undisclosed illness forced Avery to step down from his judgeship in 2003, with three years remaining on his 10-year term. Mack called his shortened career, and life, tragic, but said that Avery would leave a lasting legacy.
"First and foremost, he was just a terrific public servant in every sense of the word," Mack said. "He was always enthusiastic and energetic, always joyful, and he really gave everything, 100 percent, to whatever he was taking on."
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