Robert and Diane Abrams

Robert Abrams, born and raised in the Bronx, served for 28 years in various elected positions including three terms in the New York State Assembly, three terms as the Bronx Borough President  and four terms as Attorney General of New York. He became a recognized leader among attorneys general in the nation. He served as the President of the National Association of Attorneys General and chairman of its major committees. As a crusading attorney general of New York, he carried the banner of reform battling the political machine bosses and special interests, winning historic victories for consumers, protecting the environment and fighting to maintain a woman’s right to choose.

Bob was selected by his colleagues as the outstanding attorney general in the nation receiving the coveted Kelley-Wyman Memorial Award and subsequently presented with the Francis X. Bellotti Award, given to a former attorney general who “has served NAAG and worked diligently to further its vision and mission and who exhibits outstanding leadership abilities and high moral character.”

Bob received his AB degree from Columbia College and his LLB from New York University School of Law.  He has received Honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Hofstra University, Pace University, Long Island University and Yeshiva University. In 1997, NYU Law School established the Attorney General Robert Abrams Public Service Lecture Series in honor of his distinguished record.  In 2012, in recognition of his contribution to the people of New York State, the Justice Building in Albany was renamed the Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice.

As a proud member of the Jewish community, Bob throughout his life and career has been a strong supporter and advocate on behalf of the State of Israel, a fighter against antisemitism and a leader of the Soviet Jewry movement in the United States.

After his service in public office, Bob became a partner in the law firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP for 28 years during which time he continued serving as a leader in pro bono and not-for-profit communal activities and organizations.

Bob married Diane Schulder in 1974, and they have two daughters Rachel and Becky who along with their sons-in-law Rabbi Ian Pear and Daniel Greenwald reside in Jerusalem with their eight grandchildren.

His memoir The Luckiest Guy in the World was published in 2021.

Diane Schulder Abrams was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island. She graduated from Columbia University School of General Studies, majoring in French literature, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to attend Columbia Law School, earning her degree in 1964.

After law school, Diane clerked for Federal Judge Dudley B. Bonsal of the Southern District of New York. She then spent two years as a trial lawyer with The Legal Aid Society in Manhattan Criminal Court. During this time, she became involved in the feminist movement, which led her to create and teach the first Women and Law course at an American law school—first at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1969 and then at NYU School of Law that fall. After teaching the course for one semester at each institution, she returned to her matrimonial law practice. (Today, similar courses are offered at most law schools nationwide.) In 1971, she co-authored a book with Florynce Kennedy, founder of the Feminist Party.

In 1974, Diane married Bob Abrams, then Bronx Borough President. Four years later, he was elected as New York State Attorney General. Their first daughter, Rachel, was born in 1976, and Diane chose to step back from her career to focus on her family. Ten years later, in 1986, she and Bob welcomed their second daughter, Becky.

Throughout the years, Diane remained engaged in public life, participating in her husband’s campaigns and hosting a cable television show where she interviewed prominent figures on current issues. In 2000, she returned to full-time work at Brown Harris Stevens, specializing in the sale of Manhattan apartments and townhouses. Most recently, she completed and published her new book, My Grandmother’s Candlesticks.

Diane and Bob’s daughters are both married—Rachel to Rabbi Ian Pear and Becky to Daniel Greenwald. The two couples, along with Diane and Bob’s grandchildren, reside in Jerusalem.