Mary WanderPolo

We were deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of New Jersey ElderLawAnswers member attorney Mary E. WanderPolo.  Below is an obituary sent to us by her firm, WanderPolo & Siegel.

Mary WanderPolo, a nationally recognized leader in the elder law community and founding partner of WanderPolo & Siegel in Montclair, died December 26th, after an eight month battle with cancer, at the age of 58. 

Mary received her BA from the University of Michigan and her JD from Yeshiva University, Cardozo Law School.  After suffering a stroke during her second year at Cardozo, Mary pledged her life and career to helping others deal with disability, aging and end of life.

Mary was an associate with Freedman and Fish in New York City, prior to moving her practice to New Jersey in 1995 as she continued her focus on Elder Law and Estate Planning. She was one of the earliest attorneys certified by the National Elder Law Foundation. She was a founding member and former Chair of the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

"Mary had a way of walking into a room and putting everyone at ease. Her compassion and easy manner could almost make you forget what a brilliant attorney she was. However, her adversaries only made that mistake once," said Shana Siegel of her mentor and partner. "She was an incredibly genuine and caring person."

In 2012, Mary was recognized as a “Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys,” an honor reserved for a select group of members recognized by their peers for their exceptional contributions to meeting the needs of older Americans and commitment to the Academy. She was also the co-author of West’s New Jersey Practice Series on Elder Law and Former Editor-in-Chief of the NAELA Journal. 

Mary believed strongly in giving back to her community as well. She cooked and served food for the homeless and hungry at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair, where she was also a member of the choir. A gifted musician, Mary regularly performed for community and senior groups. She also served on the Board of the United Way Caregivers Coalition as well as hospital and bar ethics committees.

Mary lived the advice she gave her clients to the end.  She surrounded herself with music, friends and family and was cared for in her final days by St. Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center, where she was a Member on the Board of Trustees.

Mary is survived by her loving husband Michael and her children Susana and Ben. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers and in keeping with Mary's wishes, donations be sent to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair for purposes of establishing a Mary WanderPolo Music Fund.  To make a donation, send a check payable to "UUCM" with "Mary WanderPolo Music Fund" on the memo line to: UU Congregation at Montclair, 67 Church Street, Montclair NJ 07042, Attn:  Mary WanderPolo Music Fund.