Working for Jack… Watching and Learning from the Best
by Doug Grawe, Attorney and proud law clerk alum (2004 – 2006)
In law school in 2004, I was fortunate to start working for Jack for the next two years, and even luckier to work down the hall from him for another 14 years until the summer of 2020. It was clear early I was getting a lot more than just a job. I was getting mentors and friends in both Jack and Linda. I learned some Xs and Os of the law for sure, but much more importantly I saw service through the law in action. Jack showed me how to listen for the underlying issues and the outcomes the client really needed and wanted, not just what they asked.
In those years I learned sometimes getting the client what they need means moving a house (literally), pushing back on the powers at the county and city, or introducing the client to an expert in a different area. I learned giving money to non-profits is nice and easy, but helping them build their own new work space, helping them find more supporters, helping them get grants, or helping them navigate government bureaucracy is far more long-lasting to the client and rewarding to the soul.
I learned how to decipher his less than pristine handwriting (still far better than mine he would point out), how to shorten letters, and that talking to an official on the phone is usually much more productive than writing an email and waiting for a response.
I learned seeing the sights on a trip is nice, but studying the history and spending quality time with new people on adventures to new places makes traveling far more enjoyable and memorable.
I learned the difference between city property assessments and county property taxes. I learned a lot about Minneapolis and St. Paul’s history, and I met people who care and work hard to make Minneapolis and St. Paul wonderful places to live and work. I learned how to organize and manage a law practice, and I listened to Jack prove the best way to learn about anything was to ask questions.
But if you asked me what I took away from working with Jack the most it was how to live. I have been blessed to have had many great men in my life show me what being a good husband, dad, mentor, worker, leader, and servant looks like. Jack was one of those examples. I watched the life partnership he and Linda had. I listened to him proudly and joyously boast about his kids and grandkids. I saw the work I did for him was truly about helping clients from all walks of life and corners of the community achieve their big goals. I watched him immerse himself in the arts, in travel, in learning, all while working and managing a successful practice, proving to me multiple passions can be pursued at once.
My hope is that I made him proud, and continue to make him proud, in my work yes, but more importantly in the way I live my life. Jack was truly one of the great ones. He was one of the best. Thank you so much Jack.
Working with Jack…….
by Doug Curella Jr., JGH Law Clerk 2006-2009, Attorney and Confidential Law Clerk New York State Supreme Court, Real Estate Investor, Not- For Profit Director, Clarence Soccer Club
First and foremost, if it wasn’t for Linda I don’t know if Jack would know where to be and at what time, Linda really kept things organized…..
Things I remember:
I think Jack hired me because his last law clerk’s name was also Doug.
Very, very, early morning emails….he was either up early, or never slept.
When explaining something Jack would say, “the long and the short of it is…” but I still think I always got the long version.
“Proofread, proofread, proofread”- when writing memo’s, briefs, anything.
My absolute favorite line, that I still use today is when Jack would say “now, between us girls what can you tell me…?”
I always remember Jack drinking green tea. It would be very rare if I saw him drink anything else.
Jack’s practice had so many different of areas of law covered- tax, contract, real estate, civil, commercial and I even remembering assisting in a criminal defense case. Every case type imaginable came our way.
One case, that I will never ever forget was when someone’s property was covered in fecal matter, yes fecal matter, from a sewer line. The municipality claimed it was not their responsibility but rather the homeowners, who Jack represented. Jack was able to uncover that when the municipality was doing work and installing a new fire hydrant on the property, the municipality punctured a hole in the sewer line and then covered it up with dirt and thought they could get away with it. Jack called it “a real shit case”.
Jack and I would be in the car driving to different places. Jack was a tour guide; he knew some sort of history or had a story from many of the buildings we would pass in St. Paul.
A great recent memory was Jack and Linda attending my wedding in 2018! Jack and Linda danced up a storm (Linda has photos) on the dance floor. My cousins and family members who they sat with during dinner enjoyed the conversations and stories shared. The next day we all met up for a large brunch to catch up! I never thought it would be the last time I saw Jack. Here is a photo of that day.
After hearing the devastating news, I reached out more to Jack, realizing how short life is. Every time I spoke with Jack, he sounded just as strong and confident as he did 15 years ago. I would fill him in on my career, my kids.
My son, Douglas James Curella III, who just turned three, always asks to read the book, “My Very Own Name” that he received from Uncle Jack and Aunt Linda!