Judge Stanley Novack

Judge Stanley Novack passed away peacefully in his Stamford home after a brief illness on June 9, 2024 at 93 years old. Born July 11, 1930 in Danbury, Connecticut, the son of the late Abraham & Sadie Novack, Judge Stanley Novack was educated in the Danbury public schools; graduating from Danbury high School, class of 1948. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1953 and earned a law degree in 1956 from University of Connecticut.

He began his legal career in private practice in Danbury as a sole practitioner from 1967 through 1969. During this period, he served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the City Court of Danbury, and also was a member of several municipal committees.

In 1970, Judge Novack was appointed to be a Workers Compensation Commissioner for the State of Connecticut and held the position for a term of five years. He was then appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1975, and became a Superior Court Judge in 1978. He served as the Administrative Judge of the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District from 1988 through 1992. Thereafter, he served as the Chief Administrative Judge for the Family Division from 1992 through 1995.

Following a twenty-two year career as a Connecticut Superior Court Judge in 2000, he became a Judge Trial Referee. Having served the State of Connecticut since 1975, when he was first appointed to the bench, Judge Novack was one of the longest presiding Connecticut Superior Court judges; 2024 marked forty-nine years of service.

Judge Novack possessed the right combination of judicial fairness, kindness, compassion and steadfast dedication to the rule of law. Presiding over family court matters in the Stamford courthouse for over two decades, Judge Novack was greatly admired for a tireless dedication to every matter that came before him, from routine matrimonial cases to complicated financial and custody issues. With a sympathetic, patient demeanor, and a sharp wit, he would often inject nuggets of humor to ease any tensions of the litigants and lawyers gathered in his courtroom. He had an uncanny ability to remember his colleagues' birthdays - from the court secretaries to the lawyers who came before him - even their children, underscoring not only his keen memory but a warm, generous and caring demeanor.

Judge Novack has been called a beloved figure in Stamford's court circles; a trusted colleague to many, including his fellow judges, lawyers, secretaries; he invariably took a personal interest and sympathetic ear to those who confided personal problems or difficulties. He was steadfast in his commitment to friends, colleagues, and above all to his family.

Judge Novack was the recipient of many distinguished awards and recognitions.

In 1987 he received the Distinguished Jurist Award from the Family Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. In 1994 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In 1995 Judge Novack was recognized for his dedicated service by the Connecticut Bar Association, and in 1997, he received a Commendation in Recognition of Service from the Stamford/Darien Bar Association.

In 2016 Judge Novack was honored for over forty years of service to the Judiciary and the Connecticut Bar by the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In a tribute speech, former Judge Thomas Conlin referred to him as “the architect of family law in the state of Connecticut”. In 2018 he received the Robert J. Callahan Judiciary award from the Fairfield County Bar Association. In 2021 Judge Novack received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Fairfield County Bar Association for his service to the Connecticut Bench and Bar. In 2023, at the age of ninety-three, he received the Henry J. Naruk award; an award that is given to a highly dedicated, hard working judge whose work is of the highest quality, and whose approach is selfless with regard to the demands of the position.

While proud of these recognitions, Judge Novack was especially delighted by the outdoor gathering of judges, clerks, court marshalls, and administrative staff, held in celebration of his 90th birthday on the front lawn of the Stamford courthouse. Home made banners read “90 years Loved”; “You’re the Best”, “Stan is the Man: 90 and Fabulous”; spoke to the kinship and friendships with so many in nearly fifty years of service to the Superior Court in Stamford.

A dedicated and loving husband to Muriel for over thirty years, they shared a joyous marriage enjoying restaurants, theater, travel and friends. Over their years together, they never missed their granddaughters’ theatrical or ballet performance, academic honor, and college and law school graduation celebrations.

He was adored by his children and granddaughters who delighted in his witty and occasionally corny jokes; a comprehensive knowledge and love of Broadway show tunes; and a dedication to viewing every basketball, football, and baseball game possible, particularly as a loyal follower of the University of Connecticut men's and women's basketball teams, his alma mater.

A Stamford, Connecticut resident since 1971, Judge Novack was predeceased by his cherished wife of thirty-six years, Muriel Jacobson Novack. He is survived by his son, Stephen A. Cohen and daughter-in-law Lynn Villency Cohen; and his daughter, Jane Cohen; and three granddaughters, Rachel Cohen Grey (Daniel Grey), Rebecca DeHaven (fiancé William Duffy); and Caroline DeHaven. He also leaves his special friend, Phyllis Freeman.

An only child, he leaves three first cousins. His cousin Richard Berkowitz, a respected Westport attorney, passed away in 2022, was his surrogate brother and best friend, sharing a love of sports, jokes, story telling and family.

The funeral will be held at Temple Beth El, 350 Roxbury Road in Stamford, Connecticut on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 1 PM. Donations in Judge Novack’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.