Gail Dorff Serota ’75

Gail Dorff Serota, beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, classmate, friend, lawyer, and gift to the community, died Nov. 25, 2018, after a tragic snorkeling accident.

One of four sisters, Gail was born in Passaic, N.J.  Student council president and valedictorian of her high school class, Gail came to Princeton where, during her sophomore year, she met Joseph Serota ’75, in Hebrew 101. They started dating and fell in love.

Gail earned her Princeton A.B. degree in English magna cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors. After a year working as a paralegal for Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City, Gail enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law, where Joe was already a second-year student. She served on its Law Review and graduated in 1979, second in her class. The following year, 1980, Gail finished the Orange Bowl marathon first in the women’s division—and she and Joe were married in New Jersey.

Gail clerked for a federal appellate judge before beginning her law career and eventually becoming partner at Stearns Weaver. After Joe and his two law partners established Weiss Serota Helfman, however, they decided that the firm would benefit from Gail’s unique legal expertise and acumen. She joined them and worked there for 25 years, making partner there as well.

Gail and Joe loved their lives in Miami and committed themselves to the community. Gail began on the Pinecrest Planning Board in 2002, and then successfully ran for city council in 2004, serving until 2008, when she narrowly lost an election to be Pinecrest’s mayor. She was also president of the Princeton Club of South Florida and president of the Sisterhood at Bet Shira Congregation.

Gail and Joe had three sons, and Gail was her boys’ strongest advocate, wellspring of support, and consummate editor. She took a pure and sincere interest in everything they did, and was always open to their ideas. She modeled how to live an ethical life through acts of generosity both large and small.

In the years after her boys left for college, Gail returned to her real estate practice at Weiss Serota. She also immersed herself in her new roles as mother-in-law and grandmother. Among her many achievements, it was her deep and devoted relationship with Joe that was her greatest accomplishment.

Gail is survived by her husband, our classmate Joe; sons Michael, David, and Nathan ’14; granddaughter Maya Serota; two daughters-in-law; and three sisters. We share their loss.