In New York Law Journal, Allen Grubman '67 Pays Tribute to Professor Joseph Crea '47

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Professor Joseph Crea,” wrote Allen Grubman ’67 in his tribute to the iconic alumnus and faculty member that appeared in the New York Law Journal. Crea, who taught at the Law School for more than 60 years, died Aug. 2 at 104.

Grubman, founding partner at Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, credited Crea with helping to keep him on track in law school, enabling him to graduate and pursue his desired career in entertainment law. When Grubman struggled with the required torts class, Crea said he would give him a D if he passed all his other finals with a C or better, which Grubman did. “That D changed my life,” he wrote.

Twenty years later, Grubman, a generous supporter of the Law School, seized the opportunity to honor Crea during the school’s renovation. He asked to name a wing of the library for him through his gift. “It gave me great pleasure to do that for him, to dedicate the Joseph Crea Reading Room in his name,” he wrote.

He previously shared his heartfelt story at the 2018 Alumni Luncheon, where he was honored as one of the Alumni of the Year. “I am deeply indebted to this law school,” he said, “and will be for the rest of my life.”

Considered one of the preeminent entertainment law attorneys in the country, Grubman recently was named a Legal Legend by The Hollywood Reporter and named to Billboard’s 2019 Power 100 list.

Read the tribute