Patrick Arey of Severna Park, Md., a public finance attorney in Baltimore, died Sunday at John Hopkins Hospital from pulmonary fibrosis. He was 64.
Mr. Arey was most recently a partner at Abramoff, Neuberger, and Linder LLP, having worked there for more than 10 years as bond counsel, and as counsel to issuers, credit enhancers, borrowers, and purchasers of tax-exempt bonds.
“Very few lawyers can see both the forest and the trees,” said David Abramoff, a founder of the firm. “What made him an exceptional lawyer was that he could see the finish line and then advise everyone on the details to accomplish that.”
Mr. Arey had “so much positive energy” and was usually at his desk at 6:30 a.m., putting in 12 hours a day, Abramoff said.
Mr. Arey also worked at the law firms of Miles and Stockbridge in Baltimore and McGuire, Woods and Battle in Richmond.
He was active and served in key positions in the National Association of Bond Lawyers and the American Bar Association. He was a member of the ABA’s House of Delegates and chaired the group’s State and Local Government Law section from 2000 to 2001. He also was a member of the American College of Bond Counsel.
“Over many years, Pat evidenced his dedication to improving the practice of public finance law in his work for NABL, the Bond Attorneys’ Workshop, and the American Bar Association,” said Dean Pope, a partner at Hunton & Williams LLP in Richmond. “He earnestly believed that bond lawyers could and should do the right thing: serving their clients. Pat also had his priorities straight — he was devoted to his family, his church, and his profession. We will all miss his wisdom and his indefatigable good humor.”
Mr. Arey graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and from Washington and Lee Law School in 1976. He was a lifelong Episcopalian and held many church leadership posts.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Pamela Henry Arey, as well as his children: Lindsay Parvis and husband Matthew of Silver Spring, Md.; Anne Walton Arey of Arnold, Md.; Molly O’Neill Arey of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; and John Patrick Kane Arey and wife Beckie of Waynesboro, Pa.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Bishop Claggett Center, P.O. Box 40, Buckeystown, Md., 21717 or St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church Outreach Ministries, 730 Bestgate Rd., Annapolis, Md., 21401.
Family and friends may visit Barranco & Sons P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home at 495 Ritchie Highway on Aug 5, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held Aug. 6 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Martin’s in the Field Episcopal Church at 375 Benfield Rd. in Severna Park, Md., 21146. Burial will take place at St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon’s Island Rd. in Lothian, Md., 20711. Online condolences may be made at:
