‘Mal Stewart is a person who loves the law’

The Orange County Bar Association presented Malcolm Stewart with its Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021 during its annual business meeting on Wednesday, June 23.

“Mal Stewart is a person who loves the law; he loves people and it shows in his practice, in his community involvement and how he has served as assistant district attorney,” said attorney Leonard Kessler as he introduced Stewart to the more than 350 attorneys, family members and friends who had gathered at the Goshen Historic Track for the event.

“Mal loves people and his community. In recent years the diversity and depth of his practice and admirably showing tremendous patience undertaking personal injury cases, shows this love” Kessler added. “It’s a privilege for me to present him with this award.”

A moment to remember

Although delighted - and humbled - with receiving the award, Stewart said he was “heartbroken” that his wife, Susan, who died last year from cancer, wasn’t there to share this moment with him.

“Everything I have achieved was the result of her unfailing love and support,” he said, adding “I am grateful to my children and my family for their love and support.”

Stewart has two children: a son Jason and a daughter Rebecca. After serving seven years in the U.S. Merchant Marines, Jason resigned to spend time with his mother when she was diagnosed with cancer; Rebecca is a Spanish teacher at Monroe-Woodbury High School.

A graduate of Goshen High School, Princeton and NYU Law

Stewart is a Goshenite, having graduated from Goshen High School in 1966. He went on to graduate from Princeton University and New York University School of Law.

He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for Orange County in 1976. After leaving the D.A.’s office in 1980, for two years he was a Senior Trial Attorney for the Orange County Legal Aid Society. From 1982 until 2000, he was in private practice, concentrating primarily on criminal and matrimonial matters. In his 24-year career as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, he tried more than 35 felony cases to a jury verdict, in addition to many other trials in local courts.

Embarking on a new career, he worked from 2000 until 2006 in insurance defense for the Kemper Insurance Company and then the Zurich Insurance Company, defending cases from Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan counties and as far south as the Bronx. From 2006 until 2016, he was Senior Trial Attorney for Selective Insurance Company, adding the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau and Suffolk Counties to his caseload. During his career at Selective, he argued cases in three of the four appellate divisions of the New York State Supreme Court.

He has spent the last two-years of his 44-year career working for Sobo and Sobo L.L.P. in Middletown, representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases.

Community service

Through the years, Stewart has been equally busy engaging in diverse activities that better the community.

“I always found community activities to be an important and rewarding part of my life” he said, “and it’s clear to me that my involvement was a major factor in the decision to give me this award.”

In 1963 he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, he is a veteran of the United States Air Force and for 11-years sat on the Goshen Village Board as a Trustee. His church participation include Elder, President of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee at Webb-Horton Memorial Church in Middletown, as well as Elder and two-time President of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Finance Committee at the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen.

He has been an active members of the Goshen Fire Department for 32-years. He’s a past Vice-President and Treasurer of the Dikeman Engine and Hose Company and is currently the Recording Secretary. Stewart is currently Captain of the Goshen Fire Police.

He is a life member of the American Legion Post 377, past president of the Goshen Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, a former Trustee of the Goshen Library, and a vice-president and long-time supporter of Cornerstone Theatre Arts.

‘Thank you for your wisdom and guidance’

Stewart retired from his profession in March 2020; however, he’s still keeping active.

“I walk my dog, a Golden Retriever, every day. Daisy and I walk at least four miles. And my involvement with the Fire Police and the First Presbyterian Church keep me busy,” he said. Besides that he’s a fan of old movies that he watches on Turner Classic Movies, and he reads a lot, favorites are Stephen King and Dean Koontz thrillers.

“Everything I know about trying cases, I learned from other lawyers,” Stewart said in concluding his remarks. “I thank you for your wisdom and guidance over this 44-year journey.”