Howard Leslie Kushner

April 5, 2021 - Howard L. Kushner of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Pembroke Pines, Florida, and founder of Kushner & Kushner, PC, a global immigration law practice, died peacefully at the age of 81, surrounded by his immediate family.

Howard was born in Niagara Falls, New York, the son of Lillian (“Laya,” née Sulman) and Abraham R. Kushner and brother of Roger S. Kushner, MD. He is survived by the love of his life and spouse of over 50 years, Mary Jean (née Sass) Kushner and his children Laya (Igor), Mathew (Rachel), and Tina Kushner.

Howard was the connective tissue of his family, building and maintaining relationships across generations as the Kushner, Sulman, and Sass families expanded across the U.S. and internationally. With his easy demeanor and supportive tone, he made everyone feel they were part of the family. Splitting his time between his adopted homes in Charlotte and Pembroke Pines, he supported local teams but remained a devoted fan of the Buffalo Bills.

A 1964 graduate of Georgetown Law and of Cornell University in 1961, Howard returned to his hometown of Niagara Falls, New York, and began practicing law with his father. In the early 1970s, Kushner, Kushner & Roscetti, PC was formed, and Howard’s focus on immigration deepened. A musician stuck at the Canadian/U.S. border, and a conversation with a former JAG attorney at his nephew’s bar mitzvah led to lifelong clients and a reputation as the immigration attorney to the stars.

With a push from Mary Jean and a shove from his children, Kushner and Kushner, PC relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1997, as Howard was joined in practice by all three children, Laya, Mathew and Tina. Howard relished his role as Senior Partner and later mentoring their associates Zach, Brandon and Erin.

As a founding member of its Upstate New York chapter and a frequent speaker, Howard was a proud member and leader of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Each June, Howard used the annual AILA conference as an excuse for a family vacation and a not so subtle chance to introduce his kids to his passion for Immigration and Naturalization law. As he was fond of saying, “if you don’t like something in Immigration, just wait, it’s always changing.”

Over the decades, Howard and Mary Jean loved to travel with family and friends to the far reaches of the globe. Through his business relationships and extended network, Howard and Mary Jean met locals that often became lifelong friends. Often eschewing the traditional routes and locales, they sought a deeper connection in each destination, including traversing the backroads of the Czech Republic without a map. Howard and Mary Jean were able to sample foreign cultures and cuisines, seeking out Jewish communities throughout the World.

Howard was also passionate about his dogs, instilling his love for them in his children, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was devoted to each member of his pack: Schmoogy, Sydney Sue, Patsy Pease, Lola, and Grethel. In his later years, Howard could often be found on a peaceful stroll, with one of his canine companions by his side.

Following Graveside Services on Wednesday, April 7th, Shiva was held in person on Wednesday and Thursday evening at the home of Laya Kushner.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the following organizations:

Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte, 5007 Providence Rd., Suite 105, Charlotte, NC 28226

(http://www.jfscharlotte.org) or Greater Charlotte SPCA, P.O. Box 77491, Charlotte, NC 28271

(https://www.charlottespca.org/donate)