Noach Dear

Noach Dear (November 20, 1953 – April 19, 2020) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as a New York Supreme Court judge. Dear was elected in 2008 as a civil court judge, in 2010 as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, and in 2015 for a 15-year term as a Permanent Justice on the New York Supreme Court. Prior to his appointment, he served as a member of the New York City Council from 1983 to 2001. He died during the COVID-19 pandemic due to complications of COVID-19.

Noach Dear
Justice of New York Supreme Court
In office November 5, 2015 – April 19, 2020
Preceded by	David Schmidt
Succeeded by	Vacant
Member of the New York City Council from the 44th district
In office 1983–2001
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Simcha Felder
Personal details
Born	November 20, 1953 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	April 19, 2020 (aged 66) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	4[1]
Alma mater	Brooklyn College (BS) Yeshiva University (MSW) Brooklyn Law School (JD)

Early life and education

Dear was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Joan (Lipins) and Sidney Dear.[1][2] As a child, Dear was in Eli Lipsker's Pirchei Agudath Israel Choir, and sang on the first New York Pirchei album Pirchei Sings אליך ה' אקרא‎.[3] He attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.[4]

Dear received a B.S. from Brooklyn College (1975), a master's degree in social work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University (1975), and a JD from Brooklyn Law School (1991).[5][6][7][8]

Career

His public service career began as a district leader and as district manager of Brooklyn's Community Board 12.[9][10][11]

Dear served as a member of the New York City Council from 1983 to 2001.[5] He headed the Transportation Committee and opposed commuter vans, otherwise known as "dollar vans," as a transportation alternative while in office.[12] Council member Dear also served on "the Finance and Land Use Committees as well."[13]

He advocated support for the State of Israel and concern for the issues impacting the primarily Jewish-and heavily Orthodox Jewish-residents in his community, which included Midwood, as well as large swaths of Borough Park and Bensonhurst, all in Brooklyn.[5] In 1986, Dear voted against a civil rights bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, and public accommodation.[14][5] In 1987 he introduced a bill, supported by "about 30 members of the City Council," to push permission for "more Jews .. to leave the Soviet Union."[15]

Dear was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission in 2002 for a seven-year term.[5]

Dear was widely seen as a political rival of Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who represented many of the same constituents that Dear once represented while in office, and comes from an Orthodox Jewish background.[16]

Term-limited out of office, Dear launched an uphill campaign for the New York State Senate seat now held by Kevin Parker in 2002. In a five-candidate field, Dear narrowly lost to Parker by a margin of 909 votes.[17] Dear also ran in a Democratic congressional primary that chose the successor to Charles Schumer in 1998, which saw him face three other candidates, including the eventual winner, Anthony Weiner.[18][19]

Dear was a New York Supreme Court judge, elected in 2008 as a civil court judge, in 2010 as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, and in 2015 for a 15-year term as a Permanent Justice on the Supreme Court.[20][5]

Death

Dear contracted COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, was sick for weeks, and was placed on a ventilator.[5] He died on April 19, 2020, aged 66.[21][2] Dear was the second Brooklyn judge to die as a result of COVID-19.[22]

References

1. "Candidate - Noach Dear". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
2. Roberts, Sam (April 20, 2020). "Noach Dear, Combative Brooklyn Councilman and Judge, Dies at 66". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
3. Ginsberg, Rachel. "Catch a Falling Star: How do former child stars navigate life after the glitz and glitter is gone?" Mishpacha, April 9, 2014, p. 152.
4. editor. "Noach Dear z"l". Matzav. Retrieved April 19, 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
5. Hana Levi Julian. "Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Noach Dear, 67, Dies from COVID-19". Jewish Press. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
6. "New York Supreme Court Judge And Former Councilman Noach Dear Passes Away From Coronavirus"
7. "Noach Dear, New York State Supreme Court: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets". Bloomberg. February 7, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
8. Judith N. McMahon. "Judges Profiles | Noach_Dear". New York Law Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
9. "Candidates Crowd the Field in Primary for Council". The New York Times.
10. Charisma Miller (February 1, 2013). "Brooklyn's legal community reflects with sadness on passing of Mayor Koch". Brooklyn Eagle.
11. James Harney (August 13, 2017). "Meet the judge: Kings County Supreme Court Justice Noach Dear chats with us".
12. Waldman, Amy. 1997. "Veto Aids a 'Dollar Van' Line" New York Times
13. "Noach Dear".
14. GOLDMAN, JOHN J. (March 21, 1986). "N.Y. Passes Gay Rights Bill After 15-Year Debate". LA Times. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
15. "Council Pressures Soviets To Open Jewish Emigration". September 23, 1987.
16. Elisabeth Bumiller (March 17, 1996). "The Gladiators of Borough Park; Rivals Compete for Power in an Orthodox Arena". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
18. Buffa, Denise (August 20, 2000). "DEM GETS 2ND RUN ON GOP'S TICKET". New York Post. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
19. "New York primary results - September 15, 1998". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
20. Donn, Yochonon (November 5, 2015). "Noach Dear Elected to 15-Year Term at State Supreme Court". Hamodia.
21. Ferber, Yanky; Weisberg, Moshe (April 19, 2020). "השופט החרדי ונציג החרדים במועצת העיר ניו יורק הלך לעולמו" [Haredi judge and representative on the New York City Council dies]. BeChadrei Hareidim (in Hebrew). Retrieved April 19, 2020.
22. Wester, Jane (April 19, 2020). "Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Noach Dear Dies of Complications From Coronavirus". New York Law Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2020.

External links

• Commissioner Noach Dear Official TLC homepage.
• Searchlight on Campaign 2001: District 44
• Noach Dear Redux
• Noach Dear and the Prices We Pay
• In Flatbush, 2 Challengers Work to Unseat a State Senator Before He Really Settles In
• Political Conversion: Noach Dear Turns Liberal in Race for Schumer's Seat