Our Firm mourns the loss of long-term and beloved firm administrator Joan Wean. Joan was a member of the Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin family for over 30 years, overseeing all aspects of running the firm including finance, human resources, facilities, technology, communications and much more.
Said Steven Lupin, Managing Partner of the firm for nearly 3 decades, who worked side-by-side with Joan in running the firm: “She was just a phenomenal person, and outstanding member of our firm. She was a consummate professional, extremely dedicated and a master of her craft. She was a wonderful person whose friendship I treasured.”
Added William Roark, co-Managing Partner, “Joan was a constant force in our firm. She was involved with nearly every area of our legal practices and always kept her focus on the firm’s goals. She will be tremendously missed.”
In addition to her work at the firm, Joan was a passionate advocate for legal administrators in law firms throughout the region. She was heavily involved – since its inception – with the Independence Association of Legal Administrators (IALA) for which she held many leadership positions, including President, and developed lifelong friendships with many members.
Said Connie DiFrancisco, President of the IALA: “Joan served as President of the Chapter from 1997 to 1998, chaired our Membership Committee for many years, hosted our monthly brown bag meetings in Montgomery County, and organized many of our dinners and happy hours. For years, she wrote the “Meet the New Member” article for our Chapter Newsletters and reached out to new members to warmly greet them and welcome them to the Chapter. In 2005, Joan was honored with the ALA’s prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award. Her role was huge, and her mark, indelible. Joan was dedicated to ALA, and to our members. As a role model to us all, Joan was instrumental in helping many begin their careers in the legal field, helping them to be their best.”
Joan ran, for many years, the annual Delaware Valley Legal Expo which brought together hundreds of members of the Montgomery Bar Association each year. All of this was a labor of love for her.
An avid gardener, Joan enjoyed the annual flower show in Philadelphia with her friends. Her passion was wine and wine tasting and she was a proud secretary and member of the Bacchus Band, a wine appreciation group for the past 33 years.
Joan was one of the leading fund raisers for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, and most recently was in the top 5% of all fundraisers in Philadelphia.
She is survived by her loving husband and cheerleader, Jeff Wean, and her beloved dogs Shana and Bella.