Reading the appreciation of Greg Farrell ’57’s life brought back memories and a turning point in my life. Greg headed the Trenton and then the state War on Poverty in the heady early days when all things seemed possible. He became a bit of a mentor to me and the late Jack Brizius ’68 as we learned about the issues of race and poverty.
I was torn about whether to attend Harvard or Yale Law School, a privilege that I was extremely grateful to have. Greg one day said, in his very matter of fact way, that in his experience lawyers from bothwere very well trained, but that Yale grads had an openness to new ways of thinking about societal problems and an ability to step right into his agency and make a difference. Harvard lawyers were very oriented to tradition and law firms, and often took awhile to adapt.
That was the deciding factor for me to attend Yale Law School. I have always been grateful, as I navigated a career of leadership in local government and civic issues. Sometimes low-key advice — even when not framed as advice — makes a huge difference. I am very grateful for his mentoring and mindful that small comments may be eye opening to students and young colleagues.