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Ben Stein's Diary
Justin Feldman, RIP
Mourning the death of a lifelong best friend’s husband and great New York Democrat.
Saturday
We are in deep mourning here at Casa Stein. Here is why.
In 1965, my future wife, Alexandra (who was then a mere slip of a single girl) began school at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York. She had as her roommate a wonderful, smart, funny girl named Linda Alice Fairstein. Linda was the daughter of a physician and a former nurse and she was from Mount Vernon, New York, a stone’s throw from Poughkeepsie. Linda’s home became Alex’s home.
Alex and Linda hit it off immediately. They became what turned out to be lifelong best friends. When I began my courtship of Alex in 1966, I immediately got to be friends with Linda and became her friend, too. Linda’s mother, Bobbie, helped Alex pick out her wedding dress.
Linda graduated with distinction from Vassar (she is now a Trustee), then attended U. Va. Law School, where she also graduated with distinction. (We also love U. Va., because my pal Billy Farhood went there and because my father was a chaired professor there for many years.)
She became a prosecuting attorney in New York City and soon rose to be head of the Sex Crimes Prosecution division of the District Attorney’s office. There, too, she covered herself with glory, prosecuting high profile cases like “The Preppie Murder” case and — far more important — declining to prosecute cases that were clearly not real crimes of sexual violence, but the settling of grudges and misplaced anger by various pseudo-victims.
About 25 years ago, Linda married an extremely well-known and successful lawyer in New York City named Justin Feldman. He died a few days ago, full of years, love, and distinction, and that’s why we are in mourning.
Justin was from a modest family background. At his and Linda’s wedding, he made a great joke. “I told her my father was a shoemaker,” he said. “She assumed he was Salvatore Ferragamo, but he wasn’t.” By sheer brilliance and hard work, he had gone to Columbia College (my alma mater for under-grad and. for my money, the best education on the planet) and then to Columbia Law School. He had served in the Judge Advocate General’s office in the Army for three years and then had gone into private practice in Manhattan, where he distinguished himself by his intelligence, devotion to justice, and hard work.
He rapidly entered Democratic politics in New York City and there, too, distinguished himself by his devotion to helping the little guy, his refusal to go along with pink or red causes, and his deep love of New York City. If you want to read about the various groups he worked for and with, go to his obit at the New York Times. It’s impressive.
He bought a home on the Democratic City-State island of Martha’s Vineyard and fell in love with the place. He made friends with the people there and loved it the way I love Sandpoint.
I met him just before he married Linda, and he made a cutting comment that was so sharp, and yet so filled with understanding of the human condition, that it haunts me day by day. I had brought with me to the dinner a fellow who was engaged in all kinds of enterprises to make himself rich beyond avarice, each one more fantastical than the one before. My friend then asked Justin what he did for a living. Justin answered very confidently, “Well, I’m just a lawyer and if Mr. Cohen decides to sue Mr. Goldberg, one of them calls me.”
My pal with the big ideas (who is probably the nicest guy on the planet) has been through bankruptcy and is being smashed by the downturn. Justin, self-effacing Justin, lived and died well-to-do.
Justin and I often teased each other about our political bents — his to the left, mine a full-on conservative — but it was always with affection. He had a sort of self-confidence that went way beyond teasing, that said, “Life is full of differences. It’s life. Get used to it.”
He and I differed quite sharply about restaurants in New York, but again, his differences were well mannered.
That’s not really the main thing about Justin. The main things is how devoted and loving he was to our beloved Linda. He revolutionized her life. With his (again) self-confidence behind her, she entered a career as a writer of detective stories which has become a major, stellar best-selling career. She became a major commentator on legal issues.
Most of all, she became a happier person, as we all do when we are loved. Inside Justin’s “tough as old boots” New York trial lawyer exterior was a beating heart of love for our beloved Linda. His devotion and loyalty to her were beyond question. She was already a major figure in New York City before they married, but Justin’s love made her a far, far happier human being.
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
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Bob K.| 9.26.11 @ 7:21AM
When you say "Great New York Democrat" I hope you are comparing him to Senator Moynihan and not Senator Schumer!
Bob K.| 9.26.11 @ 9:33AM
That said; my condolences to you on the loss of your friend.
Chalkdust| 9.26.11 @ 8:21AM
If he was so smart, why was he a member of the democratic party? Ben...next time you write an eulogy for a man, it would be a good idea to spend more time writing about him, rather than his wife....I'm just saying.
Michael Crites| 9.26.11 @ 11:50AM
Ben, thank you for inviting us into your life on such a personal level. After many (many!) years of reading your diary entries in AmSpec, I feel as if I know you even though we've never met. I consider you a good friend and I appreciate your willingness to live, love, laugh and cry in full view of those who seem to have lost the ability to appreciate the wonderful life God has given us. I feel sorry for those who spend their time in anger, without gratitude.
It used to be that those of the conservative mindset understood that not everything is political, not everything needs to be an argument, and that those with whom we might disagree are still people who add to our lives in ways we may not understand. I guess that has changed, and not for the better.
I, for one, look forward to your reminders that we are blessed beyond measure, and the source of those blessings deserves to be acknowledged and thanked. My condolences on your loss ...
Occam's Tool| 9.26.11 @ 2:13PM
My condolences, Ben.
That being said, the death of a Liberal Trial Attorney fills me with joy. Sorry, can't help it. I thoroughly despise the Legal Profession.
Dan| 9.26.11 @ 4:17PM
You must be an incopetent doctor that gets sued a lot. Or you must be in court a lot getting hammered by lawyers and can't take it. You are a smarmy ass to be happy someone died.
Shamus| 9.26.11 @ 7:14PM
People really do hate lawyers. Why is that?
Dan| 9.26.11 @ 7:47PM
Why do you hate them?
Shamus| 9.26.11 @ 8:32PM
I'm ambivalent. I don't feel one way or another.
Fred C. Dobbs| 9.29.11 @ 11:50AM
We HATE them because of WHAT they DO!
Defending scumbag killers, and con men.
Here're a few examples: Klinton, W; Klinton, H.; Edwards, J.; Kunstler, W; Cutler (Gatti's mouthpiece; et al.
Occam's Tool| 5.15.13 @ 7:43PM
Because they are incompetent vermin. As a psychiatrist, I have to deal withJudges and Lawyers all the time on involuntary treatment cases. The messes attorneys have made of this is the reason that Aurora occurred.
Occam's Tool| 2.22.12 @ 2:26PM
Thanks, Dan. When you see the incredible incompetence of most attorneys and judges, then you will understand. I have never lost a case, nor settled---I have always won---one of the attorneys who sued me had to let go of the case because it was FRAUDULENT, and one couldn't find a single MD in the US to testify against me.
Attorneys are vermin, and so are you. Learn to spell, as well. The DEATH of a Liberal Trial Attorney fills me with joy.
Tim in AL| 9.26.11 @ 9:08PM
It's perfectly fine to feel bias towards one chosen field, however to lump all into the sum is patently unfair. I too don't care a whit for the Legal Profession, but have a good many great friends that serve in it, and feel about them much like Mr. Stein does his now departed friend. I hope that somewhere in this Earth that you too have such treasure.
Occam's Tool| 2.22.12 @ 2:30PM
Tim: the vast majority of attorneys that I have met could be beaten into a paste and it would serve our country good. That, by the way, is the opinion of most of my attorney friends, who tend to be Conservative Republicans.
This was a Liberal. Trial. Attorney. What is intensely amusing now is that Ben is being sued. I hope he wins after great expenditure of money and intestinal tissue. Most medical malpractice suits---about NINETY percent--are won by the docs. The vast majority of attorneys that I have met---and, as an expert witness I have met MANY---are vermin.
Occam's Tool| 9.26.11 @ 2:18PM
He died at age 90 or 91. Had a long life, and worked for Robert Kennedy. RIP, Justin.
Death of an attorney. Meh.
Bob K.| 9.27.11 @ 1:25AM
You feel that way about Lincoln's death too?
Maybe Jefferson?
Doctors could have become involved in writing our Constitution if only they weren't so busy bleeding their patients.
Occam's Tool| 2.22.12 @ 2:33PM
Dr. Benjamin Rush, the father of my field, was a Founding Father, Bob K. Don't know much, do you?
While MDs were curing polio, Southern attorneys were supporting segregation. Please. I can do this all day, Bob.
Occam's Tool| 2.22.12 @ 2:35PM
Lincoln and Jefferson were rare exceptions. That being said, Lincoln took on cases that involved returning slaves to their owners as an attorney. Don't know much, do you? Lincoln was a great President, and a great man. But the practice of day to day law does not ennoble one.
Occam's Tool| 5.15.13 @ 7:44PM
Man, that was an awesome comeback. Damn, I'm good.
Cromulent| 9.26.11 @ 3:17PM
I'd sure like Ben to write *my* obit.
Kurt Miller| 9.27.11 @ 3:37AM
Mr. Stein,
Thank you for fearlessly sharing so much of your heart. Many times I have wept reading your words and feeling some measure of the emotions that you have felt. You are a kind soul and a tender heart, two character traits so sorely lacking in our world today. God bless and keep you, and I hope you keep on sharing. It has been a great blessing to me.