In Memoriam

Howard I. Goldstein (1948-2021), of Newton, Massachusetts, passed away on July 29, 2021, surrounded by the love of his devoted family and friends after a long and painful struggle with prostate cancer. Howie was so many things to so many people, and the world does not look the same without him in it. He was a pioneer in the field of collaborative law in Massachusetts through his firm Goldstein & Bilodeau P.C., working as a compassionate and gifted family law attorney for decades and serving individuals and families in their most challenging moments.

After his initial cancer diagnosis in 2007, he became a relentless advocate for funding for prostate cancer research and awareness, working tirelessly to ensure that adequate testing and early detection tools were available in all communities. He also served on the board of Oneinforty, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about the risk of inheriting BRCA gene mutations (which he had and made his cancer far more challenging to treat) and provides the support individuals and families need to effectively manage their cancer risk.

Howie was also a committed political volunteer and advocate, and his work in politics over the decades brought him into the trenches of campaigns from Bobby Kennedy to Father Robert Drinan, to Governors Michael Dukakis and Deval Patrick, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

He was also incredibly passionate about his Jewish faith and advocacy within Boston’s vibrant Jewish community — serving at different times in leadership roles within his synagogue, Temple Emanuel of Newton, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, among many others. Howie lived a life of authenticity and humility, eschewing fancy people and fancy things for the simple pleasures in life. He was a peacemaker that could put people at ease by his mere presence, and the reverberations of his loss will be felt for many, many years to come. Howie had more dear friends and colleagues than anyone knew how to adequately count and keep track of, and they relied upon him daily for his unsurpassed wisdom, love, and deeply empathetic ear.

Most of all, Howie was an incredibly loving husband to his wife Miriam, to whom he was married for 45 years; a devoted, proud and endlessly supportive father to his children Jennifer and Alex; and a doting grandfather to his granddaughters Eloise and Vivienne. In addition to his wife and two children, Howie leaves behind his son-in-law David, his daughter-in-law Alyssa, his sisters Donna and Tina, his niece and nephews Judi, Jake, David, and Zachary. His brother-in-law Stewart and his wife Liz, his sister-in-law Betsy and her husband Don, and an extended family of cousins who loved him. His legacy is one of tremendous love, kindness, humility, and peace.

Published by Boston Globe from Aug. 6 to Aug. 8, 2021.

Practice

Howard I. Goldstein practiced law for 46 years and was a founding partner of Goldstein & Bilodeau, P.C. Previously he was a founding partner at Goldstein Egloff Ramos & Wood, LLP and Rosenberg, Freedman & Goldstein LLP . His practice focused on divorce, probate and trust litigation and civil litigation. He also received advanced training as a mediator and as a collaborative lawyer, and provided mediation and arbitration services in these areas as well.

Professional Experience

• Divorce
• Probate and trust litigation
• High asset, complex asset property division
• S-Corporation and other business ownership and business interest issues related to divorce
• Pre-nuptial agreements
• Post-nuptial agreements
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Collaborative Law

Professional and Civic Activities

He served for more than ten years as an adjunct faculty member at Northeastern University and its Law School, and was a frequent lecturer at continuing education programs for lawyers under the sponsorship of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE) and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys on divorce law and topics relating to civil litigation. His latest teaching assignments included chairing a program by MCLE entitled “Psychology for Lawyers” and continuing education workshops at Boston University and Boston College Graduate Schools of Social Work entitled “Divorce Law for Mental Health Professionals” and at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He did frequent teachings on this topic for private mental health agencies.

Mr. Goldstein served as a member of Hearing Committee of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, on the Board of Trustees of Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services, and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. He served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation and the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council. He was also a member of the Democratic City Committee of the City of Newton, and was elected to the Judicial Council of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts, 1973

Professional Recognition

• Best Lawyers in America, Family Law (2010 to 2021)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Family Law (2005-2021)
• Av rated Martindale Hubbel
• Boston Globe “2018 Lawyer of the Year” for Collaborative Family Law in the Boston Area

Education

• J.D., 1973, Northeastern University School of Law
• B.A., 1969, Brandeis University