Willard Krasnow was an accomplished lawyer, who was also a leader in national, state and local legal and civic organizations. In his adopted hometown of Norwood, he played an active role in the political and civic affairs of the town where he had lived for more than 50 years. A deeply religious man, Will was a lay leader at Temple Beth David, Westwood, where he often helped conduct worship services. He served twice as congregational president and served as a Board member for several decades. He died Oct. 2 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, after a brief illness.
Will was a partner in the Boston office of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, where he specialized in immigration, labor and employment law. A lawyer for more than 50 years, he was recently recognized as a top immigration lawyer by Boston Magazine and was 14 times named a Massachusetts “super lawyer” for his expertise in the field. Will was sworn in to the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. in 1996.
A 1967 cum laude graduate of Boston University, Will earned his Juris Doctor degree three years later from Boston College Law School, where he had been honored on the Dean’s List. While at BC Law School, he was also elected to a national legal honor society, and was an active member of the BC Law Review. Upon graduation from law school, he served as a law clerk to Justice Alfred H. Joslin of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Will then worked in-house as a human resources counsel at Raytheon for 21 years before entering private practice, in the Boston office of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, where he was a partner, subsequently joining Constangy, Brooks as a partner in 2011.
Will was instrumental in the development of Norwood’s first Personnel Board and served as its first chair, again serving as the Board’s chair at the time of his death. He had also served as a Commissioner on the Norwood Housing Authority, having been appointed by Gov. Michael Dukakis. Will was also an avid fan of all Boston sports teams.
The son of the late Louis and Edna Krasnow, Will was born in Boston in 1945, moved to Brookline as a young boy and graduated from Brookline High School. He was the Grandson of the late Max Halpern, a well-known cantor in Boston.
Will leaves his beloved wife of 55 years, Dr. Marcia L. (Kauffman) Krasnow, three lovely nieces and a grand-niece. His late father-in-law, Dr. Joseph F. Kauffman, served as president of Rhode Island College and was the first Dean of Students at Brandeis University.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 9th at 11:00 AM at Temple Beth David, 7 Clapboardtree Street, Westwood.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Will's honor may be made to The Boston College Law School Fund c/o Boston College Office of Advancement, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, or to Temple Beth David Gifts from the Heart Fund or Temple Beth David Van Dam Music Fund at 7 Clapboardtree Street, Westwood, MA 02090.
