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Albert R. Mugel, longtime law professor
Albert R. Mugel, well-known attorney and tax-law expert, and a UB law professor for more than 50 years, died unexpectedly on Sept. 10 in his home in Snyder. He was 85.
A founding member and senior partner of the Buffalo law firm of Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, Mugel influenced generations of future attorneys and left his indelible stamp on the Law School.
Born and raised on the West Side of Buffalo, Mugel graduated from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and Canisius College. He graduated cum laude from the UB Law School in 1941 and joined the firm of Kenefick, Cooke, Mitchell, Bass & Letchworth.
That same year, he entered the Army, serving as a tank officer in Europe during World War II.
After the war, Mugel worked as an associate attorney and then in 1948 became an associate professor at UB Law School. He was recalled to active duty for a short time during the Korean War, but continued as a full-time faculty member at UB until 1955, when he joined the firm that now bears his name. His legal practice specialized in income, estate and gift taxation; estates and trusts; future interests, and estate planning.
Mugel remained at UB Law School as an adjunct professor, teaching generations of UB law students. He left the firm in 2001 to devote more time to community pursuits, but continued teaching at UB right up until his death.
He received numerous awards, including the Edwin F. Jaeckle Award, the law school's most prestigious award; the Samuel P. Capen Award from the UB Alumni Association, and a distinguished alumnus award from the UB Law School.
He served as a treasurer and director of the Erie County Bar Association, was a former member of the Executive Committee of the Section on Taxation of the New York State Bar Association and chaired the ECBA's Committee on Taxation.
In addition, Mugel had been a trustee, director and legal architect of the John R. Oishei Foundation.