Page 19 - NYLS Magazine • 2015 • Vol. 34, No. 1

Indeed, like so many of our graduates, and for so many reasons, Kathleen was a pioneer, entering the legal profession at a time when it was male-dominated. And no matter the challenge, she did what she did best—she used her great intelligence, skill, and education to rise through the ranks, operating at an unrivaled scale and technical complexity, to become one of the most powerful and respected women in New York City government.
To be clear, Kathleen personified the qualities of hard work and creating opportunity—the core values of New York City—in everything she did.
And for us at New York Law School, she personified our spirit and values of advancing justice, fostering integrity and professionalism, and embracing innovation.
We have been so proud, and have honored many times, Kathleen’s countless contributions to society, and personal achievements.
Just last year, in recognition of her incredible lifetime achievements and her tireless service to the School, we awarded her our highest honor: the President’s Medal.
As I stand here today, I think of all the lessons we learned from the extraordinary life she led:
No obstacle is too big to overcome.
No question is too delicate to be asked. (You’ll recall she asked a lot of very tough questions.)
Never be unprepared. (Important to remember when dealing with someone who asks very tough questions.)
Admit when you’re wrong, but don’t be too proud when you’re right.
Always do right by the students.
And don’t take things too personally, even if they are personal.
In what would be my final conversation with her last Thursday, she stressed to me how much the Law School meant to her, and she was unmistakably clear with me about being fearless. And this is something she also emphasized in her parting words to our Board during a conference call the day before. And if you know her, you know this makes sense.
After all:
Who knew better than Kathleen that confronting adversity was in the core job description of someone who is a leader?
Who knew better than Kathleen that to be powerful, you both had to be tenacious and hold yourself accountable?
Who knew better than Kathleen that any organizational problem could be solved—not only by understanding
the systems and data at play, but most importantly by understanding and caring about the people who need to be led, trained, and empowered to be agents of change?
And who knew better than Kathleen that advancing justice, fostering integrity and professionalism, and being a great innovator, often requires real courage and taking real risks? That’s what made her so great...and so powerful. That’s why she’s completely irreplaceable. And that’s why we are better as a City, as educators, and as individuals because of her.
Kathleen showed unrelenting courage, determination, and unique grace and kindness in every part of her life, right up until her final day.
As Maya Angelou powerfully once said:
“I am convinced that courage is the most important of all the virtues. Because without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue consistently. You can be kind for a while; you can be generous for a while; you can be just for a while, or merciful for a while, even loving for a while. But it is only with courage that you can be persistently and insistently kind and generous and fair.”
I can’t think of a better way to describe Kathleen, and remember the extraordinary life she led.
The New York Law School community will never forget Kathleen Grimm.
And I will never forget Kathleen Grimm. Her wisdom, her kindness, her friendship, and her generous counsel were always just a short walk, phone call, or e-mail away.
I will miss her, but will continue to be guided by her lessons and be comforted in knowing that she is watching over us.
And I know the Law School community, which has seen such an outpouring of support, will continue to be guided by her inspiration as we work together to honor her memory and her service, including through the Kathleen Grimm Medal for Distinguished Public Service, which will be awarded at each Commencement going forward.
May God bless the memory of Kathleen Grimm and the many lives she touched. •
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