Steven Arbittier

(38)

1994-1996

Steven Arbittier was President of Keneseth Israel from 1994 to 1996. He was born on December 7, 1938 in Pennsylvania. He grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, attended Central High School, and received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Pennsylvania on full scholarship. He was the first in his family to attend college and became editor of Penn’s Law Review. Arbittier went on to have an illustrious career in law in the Philadelphia area. He worked as a civil trial lawyer for 45 years, specializing in arbitration and mediation. He was chairman of the litigation department of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, a partner at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, chairman of the Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors, and a member of the national panel of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association. From 1982 to 2007, he was co-author of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Civil Practice Manual for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Arbittier authored Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Liens (1980) and Pennsylvania Construction Law (1981). He also  chaired the 1985 Campaign for Qualified Judges. His skill was recognized by multiple awards and honors. He was named one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in 2011 and a “Super Lawyer” from 2004 to 2008 by Philadelphia Magazine. He also received the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Special Award of Merit.

Arbittier was also an active community leader. He was president of Klein JCC in Northeast Philadelphia and the Old York Road Skating Club, in addition to serving as President of Keneseth Israel. Arbittier was married to Helen P. “Lynne” Arbittier, born Polin, with whom he had two sons, Robert and Douglas, and four daughters, Meredith Shatoff, Jennifer Williams, Elizabeth Arbittier and Lauren Davis. He lived in Rydal, Montgomery County. Arbittier died on May 14, 2011 of cancer.