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Putnam Valley Loses Elder Politician as Harriet Gair Passes Away at Age 100
by Edward Paul Greiff
Harriet E. Gair, a lawyer, a Putnam Valley Councilwoman, Judge, and Library trailblazer, passed away July 11, 2006 at the age of one-hundred. Her son, Anthony Gair, said, "My mother would like to be remembered as a person who was not materialistic, had a great desire to leave things better than when she found them, and wanted to make a difference."
And based on her 100 years of accomplishments, that is how Harriet Gair will be remembered. She was born in Manhattan on December 29, 1905 and grew up in an orphanage and very poor surroundings. A love for reading, books and education became her escape and salvation. She began working in 1921 as a legal secretary at the law firm of Harry A. Gair and attended George Washington Evening High School. Unable to afford college she continued working for Harry Gair and eventually married him. Afterwards she attended New York University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 and a Law degree from NYU in 1940.
Harriet and Harry Gair became law partners and founded the firm of Gair & Gair in 1945. Ms. Gair researched and prepared cases and oversaw the firm's management while her husband handled trials. The firm eventually evolved into Gair, Gair Conason, Steigman & Mackauf.
In 1948 Anthony and Roger Gair were born and Harriet left the law office for ten years to care for her twin boys. However, after ten years Harry Gair needed her back as an office manager and from that time until 1982 she served as the office manager. Upon retiring Ms. Gair remained "of counsel" to the firm until her death.
Anthony Gair writes of his mother, "Besides her duties in the office, she found the time to raise four children, myself and my twin being the youngest. She has also been very active in politics, having served two terms as a Town Councilwoman for the Town of Putnam Valley. Subsequently she ran for Welfare Commissioner for Putnam County, receiving a record number of votes for a democrat, although in a losing effort. She later served as Town Justice of Putnam Valley for approximately six years, retiring from that post in 1982."
Anthony Gair continues, "She has always stressed the importance of education, especially for women, in order that they may compete in the job market. . . Her philosophy is that one can achieve anything if one puts all ones efforts into the task. On seeing such motivated people she had always been willing to lend a hand, paying for numerous courses for former messengers and secretaries, many of whom have gone on to law school and subsequently the practice of law. Perhaps one of her greatest joys is seeing these young people return, as successful professionals, to thank her for her help."
"My mother has lived this philosophy, always being ready to help someone if she sees that they want to help themselves."
"Books have also been important to her. As a child they were a means of both escaping from the realities of everyday life, but more importantly, a source of knowledge. This first love has been translated into action as witnessed by her dedicated work with libraries. She single-handedly created the Putnam Valley Free Library, going so far as to purchase a building which she donated to the Town, to house the many volumes she caused to be collected. She was a past president and member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Hudson Library Association, which encompasses approximately 60 libraries in various towns throughout the Mid-Hudson area, and experienced an unprecedented growth during her tenure."
"If I had to describe my mother in a few words I would say she believes in hard work, not wasting ones potential but actualizing it and always maintaining a compassion for her fellow man and a love for life."
Harriet Gair's husband died in 1975. She is survived by two sons Roger Gair and Anthony Gair, two stepsons Donald Gair and Ellwood Gair, a stepdaughter Barbara Schieber, and 30 grandchildren and great grandchildren. A grandson, Daniel A. Gair is an associate at Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackaul.
The partners, associates, and entire staff at the law firm she co-founded wrote of Harriet Gair, "For all of her 100 years she embodied the best of everything . . . she touched and inspired each of our personal lives. The legal profession has lost one of its pioneers and giants, but we have lost our leader and our friend. We extend our profound sympathies to her entire family."
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