Robert E. Whelan
Honorable Robert E. Whelan is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of New York 8th Judicial District as well as the former Comptroller of Buffalo, New York from 1976-1989.
Early life
Whelan was born on in Buffalo, New York. An Irish-American,he was raised in South Buffalo, Buffalo, New York. Whelan grew up in a household of 10 brothers & sisters. His father, Robert J. Whelan, was a Buffalo Policeman who attained the rank of Assistant Chief of Detectives and his mother Margaret had worked for the International Railway Company. His great-grandfather,James Whelan,who came from Ireland was a Justice of Peace and a Buffalo attorney who worked in the same law firm as Grover Cleveland. The family was raised Roman Catholic. Whelan attended Canisius College for his Bachelor's Degree and University at Buffalo for his Juris Doctorate.
Political career
Whelan was elected in 1975 and served for an unprecedented four terms as Buffalo's Chief Fiscal Officer. During Whelan's four terms in office as Comptroller he oversaw the restoring of Buffalo's fiscal integrity after inheriting a $35 million dollar deficit and lost BOND rating.He was progressive in streamlining the City's audit and accounting functions resulting in greater efficiency and accuracy at City Hall.
He also introduced innovative financial mechanisms, negotiated bond legislation and proposed new Water Authority. He also fixed the assets accounting system, accelerated tax & water revenue collection systems and implemented a new revenues & accounts receivable system. Whelan successfully negotiated bond sales for the Buffalo Sewer Authority in excess of 300 million dollars. He improved the City's credit rating and achieved fourteen consecutive years ending in the black. Whelan served with Mayors Stanley Makowski from 1976â1978 and James D. Griffin from 1978-1989.
In 1989, Whelan was elected to the Supreme Court of New York. Inaugurated on January 1, 1990, Whelan served 14 years in the Eighth Judicial District of New York. Whelan specialized in cases regarding medical malpractice, product liability, negligence, commercial law, equitable distribution, and lastly labor/management. Justice Whelan was awarded Justice of the Year in 1991 by the Matrimonial & Family Law Committee of the Erie County Bar Association. Whelan published over 30 significant decisions, such as Scanlon v Buffalo Board of Education (upheld by Court of Appeals concerning pension rights to teachers), Schultz v Harrison Radiator (upheld by Court of Appeals concerning valuation of special damages) and Torgeson v Torgeson (business & asset valuation in matrimonial action) as well as lectured at law schools and bar association seminars.
Philanthropy
Chairman, Arthritis Foundation Telethon
National March of Dimes
United Way Loaned Executive
Chairman, Buffalo & Erie County Convention Center
Former Board Member, Fine Arts Academy Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Chairman, United Negro College Fund Telethon
Professional Affiliations
Former President 8th District & State Executive Committee Member(NYS Supreme Court Justices Assoc)
Served on American Bar Association & New York State Bar Association's Judicial Admin. Division
National Conference of State Trial Judges of the American Bar Association
Past Member Board of Directors of the University at Buffalo Law School Alumni Association
Awards and honors
- Nationally recognized as Comptroller to "All Pro City Mgmt. Team" City and State Magazine
- Outstanding Financial Manager Award American Institute of CPAs, Cleveland Chapter 1987
- Justice of the Year Matrimonal & Family Law Committee of Erie County Bar Association 1991