CONgratulations to October Attorney of the Month!

John A. Passarello, Jr. Esq.

John A. Passarello, Jr., Esq. has devoted more than five decades to the practice of Law and to serving individuals and families throughout Staten Island and Richmond County. To this day, he continues to practice daily.

 Admitted to the New York Bar in 1974, Mr. Passarello's practice encompasses Estate law, Real Estate, Mental Hygiene law and general practice. He is a Court Examiner appointed by the Appellate Division, Second Department, and also acts as Referee. He is also appointed Counsel to Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., Public Administrator of Richmond County.

 A graduate of Wagner College, Class of 1969, Mr. Passarello earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1973. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for providing knowledgeable, thoughtful and practical counsel to his Clients, drawing upon decades of experience and a deep understanding of the legal and personal issues that often accompany significant life events.

 John proudly served as President of the Richmond County Bar Association in 1999 and 2000. 

 For John, the practice of law has always been about much more than the legal matter itself. He takes the time to listen and understand each person's individual circumstances and provide the same care, attention and guidance. That personal approach has allowed him to develop lasting relationships with generations of Clients and their families and has been a defining characteristic of his career. He received a Certificate of Recognition from the American Cancer Society and a Georgie award from the St. George Theatre.

 He was a proud member of the Barristers Softball Team for many years.

 John is the devoted husband of Maureen Passarello for 56 years, and the proud father of three daughters, Dari, Natalie and Pamela, all of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became Attorneys themselves. Their shared dedication to the legal profession represents a remarkable family legacy and is a source of great pride for John and Maureen.

 With over more than 50 years in practice, John has had the privilege of helping countless individuals and families navigate important moments in their lives, from real estate transactions and estate matters after death and other significant legal matters involving individuals with disabilities. His approach has remained consistent throughout the years: listen carefully, know your client, provide sound counsel and treat people with care and respect.

HONORING COURT OFFICERS

On September 11, 2001, a group of court officers rushed into the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Three of them — Captain William “Harry” Thompson, Sergeant Thomas Jurgens and Sergeant Mitchel Wallace — died

Court Officers: Edwin Kennedy , Tyree Bacon, Frances Barry, John Civelia, Gerard Davis, William Faulkner, Gerard Grant, Elayne Kittel, William Kuhrt, Theodore Leoutsakos, Craig Lovich, Patricia Maiorino, Reginald V. Mebane, Al Moscola, Kathryn Negron, Joseph Ranauro, Albert Romanelli, Richard Rosenfeld, Andrew Scagnelli, Mahindra Seobarrat, and Andrew Wender received Medals of Valor in 2002 for their efforts on 9/11.

ATTORNEY OF THE MONTH - Mark Palladino, Esq.

As prosecutor at the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office for more than 29 years, Mark Palladino has secured numerous notable trial convictions and continues to work tirelessly every day to ensure justice for victims of crime in Richmond County. As Executive Assistant District Attorney for Trials and Court Operations, Palladino is Chief Trial Counsel and as part of his duties supervises all homicide prosecutions at RCDA. 

He is the lead prosecutor for all arson cases and directly oversees the office’s Hate Crimes and Vehicular Crimes Units He manages all Grand Jury matters and procedures and proudly serves on the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force, offering his legal expertise as a resource for different communities to learn more about how the office prosecutes hate crimes.

 He has conducted over 60 jury trials to verdict during his career. Among his most notable convictions was the Elena Kieljiches homicide, a conviction in 2017 against Pedro Abad (a former New Jersey police officer) for driving while intoxicated and causing a fatal car crash on the West Shore Expressway that killed two of his passengers and seriously wounded another, and the Leonard Evans and Francis Batama homicides. 

Palladino is the recipient of numerous awards including the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce 2025 Prosecutor of the Year Award, the prestigious 2013 Thomas E. Dewey Medal, and the 2018 Mothers Against Drunk Driving Excellence Award for his commitment to holding drunk and drugged drivers accountable under the law. 

Combining great ability with energy and passion, as well as an unwavering commitment to his profession, Palladino has been a tremendous asset to RCDA and the office’s mission of keeping Staten Island safe.

 Palladino earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1991. He began his career in public service in 1994 as Legislative Director and Counsel to Councilman Noach Dear of Brooklyn, where he drafted and researched legislation, coordinated oversight hearings and served as a community and committee liaison. He went on to perform similar duties under Councilman John Fusco on Staten Island before starting his career as a prosecutor at RCDA in August 1997.

Mark checks off the box for genuineness, kindness, and a deep sense of community service. 

His commitment to the Rule of Law is exemplary and a model for all attorneys.

Congratulations to Mark! He truly deserves this recognition and acknowledgment.

Let’s give him a virtual round of applause!

Wagner College Holocaust Center

(August 3, 2026)