Thursday, November 16, 2017
Many will remember Ariel as a distinguished jurist, but I knew him in a different capacity. We started together on the same day at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office and became good friends who had many great times both in and outside the office. The murder trial where I was his investigator, the parties at his place in Weehawken, the many long conversations that had nothing to do with the law. If memory serves, we had a joint farewell party when we left the office. In 1999, he performed my wedding ceremony. Regretfully, my contact since has been sporadic, such as his letter to me describing in fascinating detail his White House interview for an open spot on the U.S.Court of Appeals . Ariel used to like to write poetry. One of his poems , circa 1975, started " I know someday the sun will die..." Indeed. Rest in peace, old friend. My most sincere condolences to Ariel's family, and especially his son, Gabriel, about whom he always spoke in glowing terms.
