My late uncle, Wolfe Cribari, was a legend in the Westchester County law community. I was only 15 years old when he died in 1966, so we never interacted as lawyers when I became a divorce and family law attorney in the late 1970s. I really only knew my uncle as a great trial lawyer by reputation and a larger than life personality. His Ivy League post-graduate education was unique among his nine siblings, who were the children of Italian immigrants. Consequently, he was revered by his brothers and sisters – by my father in particular. My choice of a career in law was inspired – in part – by my uncle’s legend.
My memories of Wolfe, however, had nothing to do with his law career. I remember him from family gatherings. My most vivid memory is of his wonderful singing voice. One evening at my grandmother’s house when I was seven years old, the whole family gathered around Wolfe as he sang some operatic arias; to me it sounded like God was singing. Wolfe was truly a multi-talented Renaissance man.
Wolfe with an “E”
Thanks to my cousin Camille Cribari Linen, one of Wolfe’s daughters, I now enjoy a full picture of the man, his work, his many talents, and his devotion to his family. Camille has written a memoir about her father entitled Wolfe with an “E.”*
Wolfe comes to life on the printed page, which is peppered with photos, letters, and news clippings that Camille has treasured over the years. (As an adjunct to the book, she even has recordings of some of his speeches and his singing available on the internet.) The stories are written so vividly; I feel a connection to Wolfe that I hadn’t felt before.
After reading Wolfe with an “E,” I have come to look upon Wolfe as my spiritual law partner. His grit and determination, his empathy for his clients, his creative thinking, his theatrical talent as a trial lawyer, and his ethical standards all resonate with me.
What would Wolfe do?
As a divorce and family lawyer, my practice is different from Wolfe’s. Early in his career he did criminal defense, and later he focused on personal injury cases. That being said, I can certainly identify with some of the challenges that Wolfe faced. In one of his first cases he traveled to a court in Canada to save a woman from the gallows. I have never had a case where the stakes were quite that high, but early in my career I had a four-month custody trial in Manhattan with a child’s future well-being at stake. I won the case. Knowing how much pressure I felt during that trial, I have a small inkling of the pressure Wolfe must have felt.
Having been a solo practitioner for most of my 45-year law career, from time to time I’ve had a hankering for a law partner to brainstorm with. Well – now I sometimes ask myself, “What would Wolfe do?”
*Wolfe with an “E“ can be purchased on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Wolfe-Episodic-Journey-through-Extraordinary/dp/B09XB2GY27/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ROFJQV51HKOV&keywords=wolfe+with+an+e+camille+linen&qid=1694123230&sprefix=wolfe+with+an+e+camille+linen%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1
