Background
Gittis, Howard was born on February 16, 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Herman and Sonia (Forman) Gittis.
Gittis, Howard was born on February 16, 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Herman and Sonia (Forman) Gittis.
Bachelor of Science Economic, University Pennsylvania, 1955. Bachelor of Laws, 1958.
He earned his economics and law degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the United States. Air Force at an Illinois airbase. After his military duty, Gittis accepted a job offer from Tom McBride who had just been elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
McBride lost his subsequent election, leading McBride to found his namesake law firm and keep Gittis by his side.
This led to a merger with Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen where Gittis eventually became managing partner. Gittis worked at Wolf Block for 25 years.
He continued in a consulting capacity to Wolf Block for a few years after he relocated to New York with MacAndrews & Forbes, a holding company owned by Ronald Perelman. Gittis and Perelman first met back in the 1970s.
Gittis became Perelman"s trusted adviser and friend.
In 1985, Gittis was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the top 100 attorneys in the country. Gittis, the son of Russian immigrants, was the first in his family to go to college. Gittis died in his sleep at his Manhattan home on September 16, 2007, from heart failure.
Gittis also acted as an adviser for politician Frank Rizzo, whom he successfully defended from an attempted recall.
Member of American Law Institute, American College Trial Lawyers, American Judicature Society, Judicial Conference of 3rd Circuit, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, Florida Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federation Jewish Agency of Greater Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, Museum American Jewish History, Philadelphia Orchestra Association.
Married Sondra Hamberg, June 26, 1960. Children: Caroline, Hope, Marjorie.