Howard Squadron, 75; Influential Lawyer and U.S. Jewish Leader
Howard M. Squadron, 75, an influential New York attorney and former chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations who for many years was a leading national spokesman for American Jews, died of melanoma Wednesday at his home in New York City.
The Bronx-born son of a delicatessen counterman, Squadron graduated from Columbia Law School in 1947 at age 21. He was the senior partner in the Manhattan law firm of Squadron, Ellenoff Plesent & Sheinfeld. Among his clients was Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Squadron advised the controversial media mogul during his purchase of the New York Post, New York magazine and other publications.
From 1978 to 1984, Squadron served as president of the American Jewish Congress, a legal rights organization. And from 1980 to 1982, he was chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
He helped found the International Center of Photography and for 23 years served as foundation chairman of City Center, a neo-Moorish theater on West 55th Street.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
