Walter Bossert
Walter A. Bossert Jr., an 11-year resident of Lincoln, died peacefully at home on October 10.
Bossert was born in Manhattan on October 5, 1932 to Christina and Walter A. Bossert Sr. He graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and has been a member of the John Jay Society for over 40 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1957 where he was lieutenant commander and top secret security officer during the Korean War, most notably at Mt. Rushmore’s Strategic Air Command Base during the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956.
After his service, Bossert attended the University of Virginia Law School and graduated in 1960. Walter joined the Wall Street law firm of Gould & Wilkie serving 34 years, 19 of them as senior partner. Gould & Wilkie, founded in 1892, was perhaps best known as the firm where Judge Learned Hand practiced before his appointment to the federal bench. During Bossert’s tenure, he was general counsel to several well-known corporations including Associated Dry Goods and their principal division, Lord & Taylor, Tiffany & Co., and Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co.
In 1980, Bossert, along with his partner Davison Grant and renowned lawyer Telford Taylor, chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials, successfully argued before the Supreme Court Central Hudson Gas & Electric vs. Public Service Commission (447 U.S. 557). This landmark case is still studied in law schools today in regard to First Amendment rights.
Until the day he passed away at age 88, Bossert remained an active member of both the New York City and SCOTUS Bar Associations as well as “of counsel” to Thompson & Hine, Gould & Wilkie’s successor. He was an avid music lover and historian who was instrumental in establishing Lyrica Chamber Music with his wife, classical pianist Mariel Bossert. The award-winning series included collaborations with the Emerson, Lark and Muir String Quartets and presidential “musical playlets” authored by Bossert.
Bossert is survived by his wife, Mariel; son William; daughters Ellen and Laura; daughters in law Barbara Bossert and Suzanne Woolston Bossert; son in law Terry King, grandson Christopher; granddaughters Brooke and Kaitlin’ nieces Elizabeth Ahner, Rebecca Bossert, and Carey Ahner; grandnieces Olivia and Cordelia; cousins Alice and Joyce; and three beloved family dogs, Buddy, Maestro, and Mama Chia.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be sent to Lyrica Boston Inc. a 501(c)(3) non- profit musical, educational and outreach organization at https://www.lyricafest.org/make-a-donation or by check to Lyrica Boston Inc. 53 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Services will be private. Visitors may post on an online memory wall at walter-albert-bossert.forevermissed.com.