Publications
As Time Goes By – One Epic Shining Moment
By any measure, Judge Conner lived a full and most-productive life. Born before the birth of our Association, he grew up as our fledgling Association’s reputation grew.
We may wonder what was it about the man that catalyzed his productivity over such a long haul. His intellectual curiosity comes fore-most to mind. He loved to learn and to teach what he’d learned, and he never stopped learning and teaching.
His actions made clear that what he loved most, apart from his beloved wife Jan and his immediate family, was patent law. Our Association and its members became his extended family. Time and time again he went out of his way to speak before our Association, always sharp-witted, and with a polite graciousness and a dead-pan sense of humor.
Most recently, he spoke at our May 20, 2009 Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on the occasion of his handing out awards to the winners of the NYIPLA’s law student writing competition named in his honor. Over the years, his words of praise to the students have doubtless inspired them to go on to get great jobs. One recent two-time winner of the writing competition, Matthew Dowd, went on to clerk for Chief Judge Michel of the Federal Circuit. Upon gaining this opportunity, Matthew observed, “I definitely have Judge Conner and the NYIPLA to thank.”