Laurie Stein Hershey, 66, of Manhasset, Long Island, passed away unexpectedly on December 12, 2014.
Laurie was born in Waterbury, CT on June 20, 1948 to the late Joseph and Helen Stein. She graduated from Barnard College and Northeastern Law School. She married John Hershey in 1974.
Laurie was admitted to the New York State bar in1975 and worked for both the Brooklyn and Nassau County District Attorneys before she went into private practice, where she devoted her career to defending the underserved.
Brilliant, kind, loyal and thoughtful, Laurie was thoroughly devoted to family, friends and colleagues. She loved playing Scrabble and was an avid reader, a reflection of her curiosity about a broad range of topics—from politics to the arts.
Laurie was devoted to public service, and volunteered much of her time with the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island, where she provided guidance and friendship to local youth.
She was an anti-war activist at Barnard College whose petite stature belied her fierce commitment to social justice.
Laurie is survived by her loving husband John Hershey; son Jerome Hershey; daughter Joanna Hershey; sister Carol Riva Stein; brother Michael Samuel Stein; daughter-in-law Erin Junkin Hershey; and grandson Miles Everett Hershey. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Merle Gordon Weisman, and numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate Laurie’s life will be held at the Weller Funeral Home at 493 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 12 noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island, 150 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788, http://www.mentorkids.org/
