Hon. Michael F. Dillon Award
About the Dillon Award
Each year the Fourth Department, Attorneys for Children Advisory Committee, selects two outstanding attorneys for children from each of the Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Districts to receive the Hon. Michael F. Dillon Award.
The award signifies vigorous advocacy on behalf of children. The award is named for the late Presiding Justice Michael F. Dillon, who spearheaded the development of the highest quality of representation for children in the Fourth Department and who initiated mandatory training for attorneys for children in New York State.
2025 Award Recipients
Presented June 9th, 2026 by Hon. Gerald J. Whalen.
Fifth Judicial District
Tricia M. Dorn
Onondaga County
Michael J. Kerwin
Onondaga County & Oswego County
Seventh Judicial District
Michele D. Ferrara
Monroe County
Elena A. Tasikas
Livingston County, Monroe County, Ontario County, & Yates County
Eighth Judicial District
Katherine D. Alexander
Erie County & Niagara County
Karyn E. Godsoe
Erie County
Lifetime Achievement Award
George C. Murad
Oneida County
Past Award Recipients
2024
- Kevin Dwyer
- Thomas Marris (posthumously)
- Michael Caputo
- Sarah Fifield
- Carol Flaherty
- Jeffrey Mannillo
2023
- Martha Mozden
- Courtney Radick
- Meghan Olsowski
- Keith Lord
- Mary Anne Connell
- Jason Cafarella
- Michele A. Brown (Lifetime Achievement Award)
2022
- Stacey L. Scotti
- Andrea C. Drumm
- Meredith M.B. Lamb
- Edward Dennis Benjamin
- Carrie L. Conrad
- Alphonso Marra Bax
2021
- Donald H. Dodd
- John J. Raspante
- Sharon L. Allen
- Katie E. Woodruff
- Jennifer M. Lorenz
- John L. Trigilio
2020
- Lou Anne Rucynski Coleman
- Michelle R. Gu
- Brian James Fay
- Eric D. Handelman
- Leah Angelita Bouquard
- Emily A. Vella
2019
- Gilles R. Abitbol
- Kacie M. Crouse
- Mary Hope Benedict
- Cynthia B. Brennan
- Mary C. Chan
- Lawrence F. Korzeniewski
2018
- Robert Rhinehart
- Clifford Eisenhut
- Joseph Dressner
- Mary Lightsey
- Lana Tupchik
- Shelley Truex
2017
- Kristin A. Shanley
- Doreen M. St. Thomas
- Carolyn L. Chase
- Leah T. Cintineo
- Teresa Pare
- Carolyn Kellogg Jonas
- Michelle G. Chaas
2016
- David Frech Jr
- Mary Hajdu
- Mark Malak
- Darlene O'Kane
- Teresa Pare
- Christine Valkenburgh
2015
- Sherene Pavone
- Jessica Reynolds-Amuso
- Elizabeth Vander Wal
- Robert A. DiNieri
- Shannon E. Filbert
- Laura A. Miskell
2014
- William R. Bartholomae
- John P. Amuso
- Lisa J. Maslow
- Jennifer L. Donlon
- Sean W. Connolly
- Leigh E. Anderson
2013
- Maureen H. Petersen
- Nicholas A. Macri
- Jon M. Stern
- Lisa S. Siragusa
- Jeffrey P. Markello
- Robert W. Schnizler
2012
- A.J. Bosman
- Margaret A. Marris
- Mary E. Aramini
- John M. Lockhart
- Nancy Dietzen
- Rebecca H. Baritot
2011
- Susan J. Kraeger
- Stuart J. LaRose
- Robert P. Turner
- Marlene A. Attardo
- Dominic P. Candino
- Charles W. West (posthumously)
2010
- Paul Deep
- Arlene Bradshaw
- Deborah Indivino
- Beth Ratchford
- Lydia Evans
- Catherine Nagel
2009
- Lisa B. Morris
- Deetza G. Benno
- Marc Waldauer
- Diane Martin-Grande
- Theresa M. Lorenzo
- James A. Kreuzer
2008
- Julie A. Cerio
- Karen J. Docter
- Steven B. Levitsky
- Steven Maio
- Emilio Colaiacovo
- Cheryl McFadden Zak
2007
- Lisa M. Fahey
- Francis I. Walter, III
- Kevin R. Taylor
- Katherine M. Gladstone
- Deborah A. Hagen
- Sheila Dickinson
2006
- Martin Collins
- Stephanie Davis
- Anthony Leavy
- David Coddington
- Ayoka Tucker
- Dennis Jones
2005
- Julie Giruzzi-Mosca
- Diane R. Chappell-Daly
- Mary Beth Feindt
- Nathan A. Van Loon
- Kristin L. Arcuri
- Debra D. Wilson
2004
- Linda Gehron
- Karen Stanislaus Fung
- Vivian Strache
- Kimberly Weisbeck
- J. Richardson Lippert
- Thomas Deuschle
2003
- Jean v. Erickson
- Barbara Mosher
- John K. McCarthy
- Fauna M. Pappalardo
- Nancy J. Bizub
- Beverly D. Ungerer
2002
- Gerard J. Neri
- Gerald Fiesinger
- Sally A. Madigan
- Robert L. Gosper
- Pamela H. Thibodeau
- Bert Dohl
2001
- Patrick J. Kelly
- John G. Koslosky
- Anthony Dentino
- Anne S. Galbraith
- Katherine Bestine
- Elizabeth O'Connor
2000
- Norman Deep
- Joseph Rodak
- Nancy Lord
- Wendy Lee Gould
- Catherine Marra
- Hollis Hite
1999
- Paul A. Norton
- Maureen K. Walsh
- Joseph G. Nesser
- Griffith J. Winthrop
- Ronald M. Cinelli
- Colleen S. Head
1998
- Susan Sovie
- Peter DiGiorgio
- Diane Katz
- Eric Shults
- Catherine Monachino
- Kevin Carter
1997
- Mary E. Curulla
- Teresa Kowalczyk
- George C. Murad
- Alice Hooker
- Thomas Lochner
- Gilbert R. Perez
1994
- M. Christine Hickey
- Michael Kalil
- Connie Lozinsky
- Carol White Gibson
- James Brown
- Charles Plovanich
1992
- Marsha Hunt
- William Koslosky
- Gail Breen
- Sylvia Fordice
- James Hinman
- Robert St. George
1991
- Bernadette Luttinger
- James Heidt
- Frank Maggio
- Anthony Geraci
- Tracey Kassman
- Richard Lehner
AFC Program
Annual Report Hon. M. Dillon Awards Become an AFC FAQ Rules Contacts Panel Lists Program Staff Handbooks Administrative Handbook Ethics for Attorneys for Children Guidelines for AFC Publications Appeals Case Digest Forms NY Children's Lawyer Resources Continuing Legal Education Seminars Training Videos Vouchers and Reimbursements AFCIV Access AFCIV Reimbursement Guidelines Judiciary Law 35(8)Attorneys for Children Program
Linda J. Kostin, Esq.
Program Director
50 East Avenue
Rochester, New York 14604
Phone: (585)530-3170
Fax: (585)530-3175
