Andrew Martin Schnier – 50th Reunion Essay

Andrew Martin Schnier

1620 Casey Key Drive

Punta Gorda, Florida 33950

917-324-0009

Spouse(s): Krystyna Helen Schnier (1991)

Child(ren): Susan Schnier McCormick (1977); Samantha Schnier (1988)

Grandchild(ren): Ethan David McCormick (2008)

Education: Yale College, BA 1969; Columbia Law School, JD 1972

National Service: Spec. 5, US Army National Guard 1969–1975

Career: Practicing lawyer in my own small firm or solo since 1976

Avocations: skiing, sailing, tennis, scuba, cooking, and basketball

College: Silliman

I am fortunate. None of my family members have exited this vale of tears prematurely, although many dear friends have.

I share good health with my wonderful wife and children and my amazing grandson. I have learned that material means cannot substitute for good health and friends.

I arrived at Yale terrified. I came from public schools and wondered how I could hold my own among those who came from Exeter, Choate, etc. I feel fortunate that I was able to do so.

I found that almost universally, regardless of pedigree or wealth, my classmates were open, welcoming, and unpretentious, and that was invaluable.

It’s 50 years later and what good do I think I have accomplished?

I always wanted to be a lawyer. Clarence Darrow, Samuel Leibowitz, and Louis Nizer were my heroes. I wanted to be a knight crusading for the underdog.

A literature major, I had a period of self-doubt when I thought that perhaps, rather than the law, I should embrace academia because I was enjoying my literature courses so much. Bart Giamatti, who had become my unofficial advisor told me that I was “too much with the world” to be happy as an academic and that I should follow my original passion and become a lawyer.

I never represented notorious clients such as the Scottsboro Boys or Leopold and Loeb, nor did I get a chance to champion science in defense of the likes of John Scopes, but I did get to represent a lot of hardworking ordinary people who needed help, and a few prominent, better-heeled ones too.

Practicing law provided me with enormous satisfaction. I count among my most cherished memories the gratitude expressed by my clients, particularly the less advantaged ones. I know that many of our classmates have had the chance to impact our entire nation and in some cases the world, but I like to think that I had an equivalent impact on the lives of those individuals that I write about.

Twenty-five years ago I wrote about my hope to circumnavigate the globe. After a long delay I hope to embark on that adventure in November of 2018. It wasn’t meant to be earlier, and if I never get to the finish, I’ll be happy with what I do accomplish. Perhaps that’s “settling.” Perhaps I have not achieved more because I am too prone to “settle,” but perhaps not.

I enjoyed the hell out of my time at Yale. Yale provided me with a terrific academic experience and wonderful friends. It also allowed me to leave for basic training in the middle of my last semester so as to be able to enter the National Guard and avoid the horrors of the Vietnam War, while still graduating with my class. It has opened doors and allowed me to be prideful about my college experience.

I can sum this up by saying “no regrets.” I have been very fortunate and Yale had a lot to do with that.