Lost: One good and honorable Man

Howard Belkin, a fairly recent appointee to the Connecticut Worker's Compensation Commission, lost his battle with stomach cancer this month and went on to that place where all of us lawyers eventually go. Commissioner Belkin was one of the funniest men I have ever met. He was never at a loss for a joke, delivered in his best Catskill lounge act style, always doing his best to put all of us who appeared before him at ease , as we argued the various pros and cons of our client's cause. But more importantly, Howard was an good and decent man. He was not flashy. He was not a show off. He never let the importance of his role in the arbitration of worker's comp claims go to his head. He was simply a great guy.

In the many months before his passing, when all of us who appeared in front of him new he was terminally ill, I would often go home and say to my wife, "I love Howard Belkin, and I am going to miss him when he's gone."

There is really nothing I can add. I am just so lucky to have gotten to know him these past few years. If you have ever had the honor of meeting Howard Belkin, then you know what I mean. If you haven't, you can only take my word for it. I loved Howard Belkin and I will miss him.