Scholarship honors UB alumnus, former Buffalo litigator

David E. Brown wanted to do something to remember his friend--who he said was like a brother to him--and law partner, the late Carmen P. Tarantino, who earned a B.A. in social sciences in 1973 and a J.D. from the UB Law School in 1977.

Brown has honored Tarantino’s memory with a $313,500 memorial scholarship to the UB Law School. The gift will support a full-tuition scholarship for three years for a deserving student in perpetuity.

Brown is a partner with Brown and Tarantino, LLP in Rochester, N.Y. He said he and Tarantino met at a trial in 1992. They forged a friendship and built Brown and Tarantino, LLP into a firm with three locations in Buffalo, Rochester, and White Plains, N.Y., and they expanded from five lawyers to 27 lawyers during the 12 years they were partners.

“This scholarship is a meaningful way for me to remember him and help students who want to follow in Carmen’s footsteps in pursuing a law career in litigation,” said Brown. “As long as there is a UB Law School and students who want to pursue an education, there will be a scholarship with Carmen’s name on it. This living memorial was the right thing to do.”

Tarantino lost his battle to cancer in September 2004.