Thomas Kirschbaum

Thomas A. Kirschbaum of Los Angeles, CA, died May 23, 2010.

Tom graduated Amherst 1977 and U.C.L.A. J.D. 1977, and practiced employee benefits law for his entire career (excluding a short unlamented stint as an entertainment lawyer with the Finley, Kumble law firm). After becoming a partner at Ervin Cohen & Jessup, he was enticed to join Irell & Manella, where he headed the benefits practice for over twenty years. His outstanding analytic abilities made him a much respected figure in the Southern California benefits bar, especially in the areas of executive compensation and acquisitions. He was inducted into the College in 2005.

Tom was interested in and expert in many areas outside of law, including opera and history, but, after his family, Tom’s great love was sailing. He was a world-class sailor with a passion for solo sailing. In 2008, he successfully competed in the Singlehanded Transpac Race, a grueling 2,120-mile solo race from San Francisco to Hawaii. Tragically, Tom drowned in a freak sailing accident in May 2010.