Paying Tribute to Robert J. Avallone
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and retired founding partner, Robert J. Avallone, on January 26, 2026.
Bob served as Managing Partner of Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP from the firm’s inception in 1993 until his retirement in 2019, and was instrumental in shaping the firm into what it is today. Through his steady, hands-on leadership and tireless day-to-day management, Bob guided the firm through decades of growth, expanding from fewer than ten attorneys into a thriving firm of more than seventy attorneys. Under his direction, the firm broadened and strengthened its practice areas, establishing the foundation for the success and reputation we enjoy today. Bob’s vision, discipline, and commitment to excellence ensured not only the firm’s growth, but its long-term stability and culture.
No matter how demanding his workload, Bob always made time for others. He was deeply committed to mentoring and developing young lawyers and took great pride in helping shape the future of the firm. Today, many of our partners began their careers under his guidance. Bob’s skill, knowledge, patience, and generosity as a mentor were legendary, and his presence within our firm can never be replaced.
Bob was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Linda, and a proud father to his son, Steven Avallone (partner Laurel Rodman), and his daughter, Jaclyn Avallone-Bertrand (husband Wes Bertrand). He also was a loving grandfather to Abigail Rodman-Avallone, Dominic Bertrand, and Carmen Bertrand. Not a day went by without Bob sharing stories of his family and the immense pride and joy they brought him.
Bob earned his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo, where he served on the Board of Directors for many years. His leadership, warmth, and tireless dedication extended well beyond our firm into the local community, where he helped raise funds and offered support as an active member of his parish while living in Centerport, prior to retiring to Florida with Linda.
Bob leaves a lasting and indelible impact on the entire Lewis Johs family. He will be deeply missed.
Below are a few heartfelt words from members of our team:
DEBORAH AVILES: Bob was one of the most intelligent attorneys I have ever met, and more importantly a tremendous individual with a fantastic sense of humor. I had more laughs with him than I can recall. I will miss and love you forever.
FRED JOHS: Bob, Bill and I had a special partnership and an amazing run for 25+ years. We trusted, respected and loved each other, never having to take a formal vote on any issue, despite how different we were, and always having each other’s back. Bob was one of the funniest people and smartest lawyers I knew. He was a great partner – managing the office and dealing with all the day to day issues that Bill and I had little interest in. We were all fortunate to have him as our partner. More importantly, blessed to have him as a friend.
TOM DARGAN: I worked with Bob closely for over twenty (20) years. Bob hired me in 1999 after a first interview. He was always the first to lend a hand, offer encouragement, or share a laugh when the days got long. He had a way of bringing out the best in others—calmly, consistently, and without ever needing the spotlight. He cared about people, not just outcomes. And that made all the difference. His kindness, his humor, and ability to lead—those things are missed every day. He was someone we trusted, someone we depended on, someone who made work feel more like home. We will miss you, Bob.
JASON KATZ: Bob was the managing partner from the time the firm was founded until he retired in 2019, and I remember him interviewing me in January 1999. When I got home and my wife asked me how it went, I told her I met the nicest guy, smart and funny, and that I hope I get the offer. It was my extreme pleasure to have the opportunity to work closely with Bob for over 20 years. Anyone and everyone who worked with Bob knew what a great person he was. Always available to answer a question, solve a problem or share an anecdote, Bob was a great guy and a tremendous resource. Bob was the first person I sought for advice on how to handle a multitude of situations and cases, as he always offered practical, helpful advice. I still remember him saying to young lawyers “know what you don’t know”. I know I speak for many when I say he will be sorely missed.
BOB DOYLE: Bob was a wonderful leader of our firm. Bob’s steady hand as managing partner for more than 25 years was instrumental in fostering the firm’s success and growth. Smart, versatile, calm, and collegial, Bob was the perfect person to serve as managing partner. That was particularly so in the firm’s early days. Back then, before the age of cell phones and email, the firm’s mostly young and inexperienced lawyers, of whom I was one, were dispatched to courts throughout the region to handle various assignments – conferences, depositions, motions, hearings, jury selections, trials, and appeals. Occasionally, we would check in via telephone to inform Bob concerning how we had done in court. More often, however, we would save our update until we returned to the office in the afternoon or early evening. I remember vividly the daily congregation of legal talent swirling in Bob’s corner office, with all of us dutifully reporting to Bob our triumphs and frustrations, asking the many questions we all had on our cases, and conveying all the messages from Bob’s friends in the courthouse who wanted us to say hello to Bob for them (Bob, Bill and Fred have a million friends!). On those days, Bob was the man to see – the one who patiently and correctly answered our questions, solved our problems, anticipated what we would need to be ready for the following day, and sent us on our way. I became a much better lawyer sitting in on those debriefings, and I observed how skillfully Bob guided us from one day to the next. Bob cared about our cases, and about our growth as lawyers, and wanted the firm to excel. Bob enjoyed the camaraderie with his team and used his daily audience to regale us with stories on his favorite topics: (1) his family; (2) his boats; (3) his latest woodworking project; (4) mastering the art of general liability billing entries; and (4) the many colorful characters he had encountered in his career. In leading us all those years with poise, compassion, and good humor, Bob helped create the firm’s exceptional culture that attracted so many of us to Lewis Johs and been the reason why so many of us stay at Lewis Johs. I am fortunate to have worked for Bob for so long and will miss him very much.
ANTHONY MANNIELLO: I’ll always remember the times in his office showing me pictures of the cottage in Canada or a new wood working project he created. I’ll miss our phone conversations after he retired. I would fix whatever tech issue that was plaguing Bob, and he would always want to know how I was doing or my wife Chelsea and Lewis Johs. He was always very generous with his time. I will miss him signing off on our calls with “talk to you later kid”.
DANNY MCCALLY: I was interviewed and hired by Bob, Fred, Bill, Roy and Craig in 1994 as a “law student file guy.” Here now, reflecting on Bob 32 years later it takes me back to my time spent with a smart, funny, charismatic and kind man. He set me up with a desk in the file room, and I did whatever I was asked to do. Filing, legal research, serving papers, making copies, changing car tires and above all learning how to be part of the Lewis, Johs family. Over the years, the firm changed. Great people came and went. One thing that could always be counted on was Bob’s commitment to this firm and the Lewis Johs family. He once told me “there is nothing that you can F up, that I can’t fix.” I don’t know if I ever told him how much that security and support meant to me. An unbelievable mentor and friend. Not many people can be both of those at once, but Bob was.
STACEY GORNY: Bob Avallone hired me in 2007 and started my journey here at Lewis Johs. I always loved sitting in his office and admiring his boxing memorabilia. He always had time to answer any question, to try and solve any issue or just chat. His stories were fun to hear and his love of Lewis Johs was apparent. I was so happy I got to see him when he was recently here at the office and despite all he was going through, he was in great spirits. The world lost a special person and he will be missed.
ROBERT YENCHMAN: Bob was the kind of person who made you feel steadier by just being around him. I was a young lawyer when Bob hired me, and in a profession that is often stressful, he was always a calming presence and a constant reminder that “everything will be ok.” Bob’s influence will be felt long after his absence, and I am forever grateful to have learned from and known him.
JOE CHARCHALIS: One of Bob’s unique skills was his ability to find the silver lining in any difficult situation or result. He was always willing to get on the call with the carrier or client to report the outcome, and with complete sincerity, he would reframe even a tough result or highlight other successes in a way that left everyone feeling the outcome made sense, and that they were lucky to have us in their corner.
CLAUDIA BOYD: In addition to being an exceptional attorney, Bob was an extraordinary mentor. He had a true gift for empowering others. I will always be thankful that I had an opportunity to work with Bob and learn from him over the course of almost two decades.
MARK ALEDORT: I met Bob over 20 years ago when he interviewed me for this job. In speaking with him, it struck right away how knowledgeable he was in addition to being a super nice man. I then had the pleasure of working with him for many years and was amazed how he knew virtually every case that was in the office. Even though I was an experienced attorney when I started at the firm, I went to Bob often when I was not sure of the best defense strategy, and he always had the best way to proceed. Since he retired, I really enjoyed talking with him when he would come back to visit. His leadership is still felt at the firm and he will be missed. I am grateful for everything Bob taught me over the years.
REBECCA DEVLIN: Bob’s office was two doors down from mine, and as a young associate, I was often the lucky recipient of his drop-in visits — sometimes to check on how I was doing, and other times to hand me one of his uniquely complicated cases that he somehow managed to make sound simple. We spent many conversations reminiscing about the good old days in Massapequa, where we were both raised, and I always enjoyed the stories he shared about the legal community we were part of — stories that were usually equal parts history lesson and entertainment. Bob led our firm the same way he lived his life — with deep pride, integrity, and commitment. It is an honor to be part of the firm he was instrumental in founding, and the legacy he helped build.
ADAM SILVERSTONE: Bob was an absolutely brilliant lawyer with an encyclopedic knowledge of insurance and negligence law (and so much more) paired with a great sense of humor. He had a particular fondness for the Marx Brothers, cars, boats, and making references to Mrs. McGillicuddy. But most importantly, he was the nice guy who happened to be a Managing Partner that worked tirelessly to make your life easier as an attorney or staff member at the firm. He was a mentor and was always ready to answer a question on any subject. He cared deeply about the people he worked with and you always knew that he had your back. He will be truly missed by all who knew and respected him.
CAROLINE HOCK: Bob hired me in 2013 when I was fresh out of law school. I was thrilled to work with such a great attorney and overall extraordinary person. My office was right down the hall from his. Bob would pop in with his ever present cup of coffee to chat about anything and everything, from his “back in my day” career stories to his heartwarming “dad jokes”. If you ever had a problem, whether it was work related or personal, Bob was the go-to guy, right there with you to figure it out. He was the heart of the firm and truly treated every employee like family. When he retired, we were all sad to see him go, but happy that he would finally have some well-earned relaxation. I wish he got more time. Rest in peace, Bob. You touched my life and so many others.
BRYAN LEWIS: He was the glue that kept everything together, the conductor who kept the trains running on time, and every other cliche you can think of for someone who was the walking embodiment of “reliable.” It’s hard for me to imagine someone more different from you and my dad than Bob was, and that’s exactly why it all worked. You built something great together. And on top of it all, he was an incredible person, generous mentor, and loyal friend to all of us, especially to me.
EILEEN LIBUTTI : Bob never entered a room quietly— energy first, then laughter, then a story already in motion.
A lawyer, yes—but not just that.
He worked like jazz: listening, adapting, finding the right rhythm for the moment.
Clients felt understood, more than represented.
If the case called for something different, Bob changed the music— from hourly to block,
from team to pod, melding the changing times into the work of the day.
He planned shows, hosted happy hours, turned ordinary nights into memories—
a song, an adventure, a party, always ready.
Bob rarely ate lunch— so if you were hungry, you learned when to steer clear.
He was practical, the steady voice that kept us grounded.
Stories and mementos followed him, mischief in his eyes, joy in the telling.
At the center of it all was love— Linda, his partner. His children and grandchildren, his greatest legacy.
A family man.
A friend to many.
A life well argued, and beautifully lived.