Steven J. Eisman dies; president of the Nassau County Bar Association was 61

Even opposing attorneys said Steven J. Eisman's devotion to family inspired his advocacy for his clients in turbulent divorce and custody cases.

And his gifts for friendship and litigating won him election as president in June of the Nassau County Bar Association.

The East Hills father of three daughters and a son died of pneumonia Thursday at a hospital.

Eisman, 61, "prioritized his family above all else," his family recalled in a statement by email. He was "always willing to help with schoolwork (and) would drop anything for his kids."

"That's what made him such a terrific advocate, because he cared about the family," said Elena Karabatos, a Garden City lawyer who represented clients on opposite sides.

Howard Fensterman, the managing partner at the Lake Success law firm where Eisman was an executive partner, saluted Eisman's ability to remain objective, which was the best way to help his clients, and to confine often pitched battles to the courtroom.

"In the matrimonial field, people are always in emotional extremis, and many lawyers take on the personalities of their clients, but not Steve Eisman. He was always able to have a unique ability to be a fierce advocate yet maintain collegiality with his colleagues at the bar," Fensterman said.

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Many Nassau judges, lawyers and clients joined Eisman's friends and family at his funeral Friday at Temple Sinai in Roslyn Heights, Fensterman said.

"He was a model to what we all should aspire to be, both professionally and as a father," said Bob Abrams, a managing partner at the same firm.

Eisman never put on airs or forgot to help others. "He was proud that he was a self-made man," his family said, noting Eisman's father was a mail carrier.

Eisman, who was "charitable to no end," met his wife through the Kiwanis Club while both were volunteering, the family said.

Best friends, theirs was an exceptionally happy union.

"Two people couldn't have loved each other more," the family said. "He was 100 percent of Kathy's life and vice versa."

Eisman's many charities included the bar's We Care Foundation. Every year, he and his family helped senior citizens with Thanksgiving meals.

Galvanized by their father's passion for advocacy, three of his children -- Alexandra of Great Neck and Amanda and Scott of Manhattan -- chose to become lawyers.

Daughter Jamie, studying at Northwestern, was instilled with confidence to follow her dream of an entertainment career.

Besides his wife, Eisman is survived by his sister, Carole Lerner of East Meadow.