Join the CUNY Law community in celebrating the life of Robert Briglio ‘86. Robert believed his greatest professional achievements included helping people with disabilities achieve lived equality and integration in the community, and educating his many students at CUNY Law about disability justice. The Robert Briglio Memorial Fund established by his classmates and friends will support CUNY Law students. Gifts — no matter how large or small — will provide needs-based support to CUNY Law students with a passion and interest in disability justice.
Read more or contribute to the Robert Briglio Memorial fund law.cuny.edu/robert-briglio-fund/
Robert Briglio, a member of the inaugural class of 1986 and a disability rights attorney, administrative law judge, and adjunct law professor at the City University of New York School of Law, passed away on October 20, 2022, two weeks after suffering an aneurysm at his home in Huntington.
Robert — known as Bobby to old friends and family, Rob to Law School classmates, and Robert in his professional life — was the adoring father of Samantha Briglio, loving partner of fiancé Eleni Venetiou, little brother to Richard Briglio, Ph.D., and doting human to Jackson, a 75-lb. pitbull.
A brilliant lawyer who won landmark cases for his clients in state and federal courts, Robert was supremely confident in his skills but modest about his accomplishments. Robert practiced civil rights litigation on behalf of persons with disabilities since graduating from CUNY Law. Most of the litigation was conducted during his two decades at the Mental Health Law Project at Nassau Suffolk Law Services in Suffolk County. His cases involved systemic issues related to housing, receipt of healthcare and public benefits, access to government programs, such as public transportation and pedestrian crossings, discriminatory zoning practices, and public accommodation access, among others.
Since 1994, Robert served as an administrative law judge, principally hearing matters under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in New York City and throughout New York State.
In addition to a degree from CUNY Law, he earned an undergraduate degree from Hofstra University, where he played on the football team — despite being 5’8” and 140 lbs. — and a master’s degree in anthropology from the New School for Social Research, where he was mentored by Dr. Stanley Diamond.
Robert was also an accomplished runner, having completed more than 100 marathons, including on Long Island, in New York City and Boston, and even one in Italy — with his best race times under 2 hours and 30 minutes. For years, he was a familiar sight on the streets of Huntington and on the Long Beach boardwalk, where he often logged scores of miles during his peak training years. During his days at the Law School — then housed at P.S. 130 in Bayside, Queens — he did training runs in the nearby streets and parks before returning for classes and study.
Despite having a legendary work and training ethic, Robert made time for family and friends, supported Huntington’s restaurants and bars, and regularly attended Hofstra football games.
Robert believed his greatest professional achievements included helping people with disabilities achieve lived equality and integration in the community, and educating his many students at CUNY Law about disability justice.
A memorial fund in Robert’s name has been established by his classmates to help students at CUNY Law pursue careers in disability rights law. Funds will provide needs-based grants for students (summer fellowships, bar study) with a passion and interest in disability justice. To learn more and make a donation click here.