Connecticut lost 15 attorneys, judges and or other members of the law community in 2020. Here is a look at those individuals, listed alphabetically. Ted Baldwin Jr. Ted Baldwin Jr.'s friends and colleagues remembered the former attorney and Superior Court judge as an advocate for the less fortunate. Baldwin's family said he died Dec. 9 of complications from COVID-19. He was 80. Baldwin was in private practice prior to being named a Superior Court judge in 2001. He retired with senior status in 2014. Baldwin was also involved in Democratic politics in the state, having run several political campaigns. Kevin Dubay Remembered as a "consummate professional" from those who knew him best, Hartford Superior Court Judge Kevin Dubay died March 6 in the Caribbean island of Anguilla after snorkeling on a local beach. He was 65. Dubay was in private practice until he became Hartford's corporation counsel in 1996. He rose to the bench in 2001, presiding in Hartford Superior Court. He was a judge up until the time he died. Colleagues said Dubay was a mentor to many, and that he had a passion for cooking and sports. Howard Gross A World War II veteran, Howard Gross was a member of the Connecticut bar for 58 years, and kept working until he was 87. Gross, whose last stint was for the now-dissolved Farmington firm of Levy & Droney where he was for 23 years, died in late May. He was 97. Gross was a longtime Connecticut estate planning and business law attorney. Elizabeth Leete Known throughout Connecticut as a leader in immigration law, Elizabeth Leete continued to practice law until she was 84. She died July 15 at 86. Leete formed Leete, O'Neill & Kosto in 1980 which, at the time, was the largest all-women firm in the Nutmeg State. Her friends and colleagues said she was a mentor to many. "She was a passionate advocate and she'd never quit. If she disagreed with a decision of an immigration agency, she had no qualms about taking the matter to federal court," said Kara Hart, a fellow immigration attorney. James Lyon Known as a mentor of young attorneys, James Lyon worked for Big Law's Murtha Cullina for 57 years, until stepping down in 2013. Lyon died Feb. 11 at 89. In addition to his mentoring work, Lyon was one of the state's few attorneys who dealt exclusively with the law related to the taxation of charitable institutions. Hugh Macgill Called a transformational figure who led the University of Connecticut School of Law during a time of growth and prosperity from 1990-2000, former Dean Hugh Macgill died Feb. 13. He was 79. While Macgill was best known for his tenure as dean, former students said he was a dynamic professor with a knack for engaging would-be attorneys. He also taught constitutional law and legal history, among other classes. Macgill joined the university faculty in 1971 and taught until he became dean 19 yeas later. Christopher McCormack Longtime environmental attorney Christopher McCormack died of a heart attack in early May. He was 63. Those who knew McCormack said the attorney had two careers: He was an attorney for three decades and an acclaimed viola player with the Norwalk Symphony. Friends said McCormack also developed the idea of partner mentors at Big Law's Pullman & Comley, where he spent the last 15 years of his life as partner. John Merchant Remembered as a trailblazer, longtime Bridgeport attorney John Merchant died March 5. He was 87. Friends and colleagues said Merchant broke many barriers. In 1958, Merchant became the first black student to graduate from the University of Virginia Law School. He was also one of the few black criminal-defense attorneys in the Bridgeport area in the 1960s and 1970s. John Naizby A personal injury attorney for 27 years, John Naizby died of cancer July 14. He was 53. Known as a compassionate plaintiffs personal injury attorney and an avid outdoorsman, Naizby once ran three Ironman races in one year. Early in his career, Naizby worked as a lawyer for Allstate Insurance, representing insurers in personal injury matters. He'd later go on to represent injured parties. David Pels Considered a zealous advocate for low-income tenants, David Pels died July 5 following a long illness. He was 71. Pels spent his entire 45-year career as an attorney representing tenants, including 22 years with the Greater Hartford Legal Aid. He retired in July 2019. Those who knew Pels said he represented tens of thousands of clients over the course of his career. Stephen Ronai Regarded as the "godfather of health care law in Connecticut," longtime Murtha Cullina partner Stephen Ronai died April 30 after a long illness. He was 83. Ronai's colleagues said he was known as a mentor to younger attorneys and was his firm's go-to attorney when the subject was health care laws and regulations. "Stephen's legacy is going to be the development of the health care and long-term care practice here and statewide," said Murtha Cullina partner Al Smith Jr. Lee Sawyer Lee Sawyer, Connecticut attorney and chief of staff to Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, died suddenly Oct. 31. He was 38. A former newspaper reporter, those who knew Sawyer said he always had an interest in the environment and environmental law. He also rose quickly through the ranks of the agency, where he went from director of legislation and policy to director of planning for materials management to chief of staff to Katie Dykes in August 2019. Ed Schmidt Known as a consummate professional who worked well with both Democrats and Republicans when he was both deputy counsel and then counsel to the state of the Connecticut House of Representatives, Ed Schmidt died Nov. 28. He was 70. Schmidt worked as of counsel for Curtis, Brinckerhoff & Barrett in Stamford for the last 14 years of his life. Schmidt, a Democrat, also enjoyed politics, having worked as an assistant to the mayor of Norwalk from 2001-2005. Schmidt also authored a history book on the Noroton section of Darien and was, at one time, president of the Darien Historical Society. Peter Tsimbidaros Bridgeport criminal defense attorney Peter Tsimbidaros died Jan. 2 from injuries sustained in a New Year's Day car crash. He was 50. Tsimbidaros, who primarily represented juveniles, was known as a strong advocate for those clients. "He was a vigorous advocate for his clients, most of whom were delinquent kids with criminal charges. He had a good rapport with those kids and really cared about them," said John Capozzi, supervisory assistant state's attorney for juvenile matters in Bridgeport Superior Court. Ralph Winter Former U.S, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Judge Ralph Winter died Dec. 8 following a long illness. He was 85. Winter, who spent decades on the Second Circuit, was also a respected Yale Law School professor. Those who knew him said Winter had a deep knowledge of securities regulations, as well as expertise in constitutional law, antitrust law, labor law and evidence.