Death of Millie Seidman (10/3/19; 10/4/19)

Millie Seidman died today.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m on Monday, October 7, at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC 20016.  A reception there will follow.  Donations in her name can be made for the Alzheimers Association.

Addendum 10/5/19 11:00 am:  The WAPO obituary, under the name Mildred Seidman Margolies is here.

DOJ gave Millie the Mary Lawton Lifetime Service Award, when Millie retired in 2005 with the following citation:

Mildred L. Seidman is recognized for her fifty years of unparalleled career accomplishments to the Department. As Chief of the Court of Federal Claims Section, she oversees the litigation of high-stakes, high-dollar tax cases that are extraordinarily complex and challenging and pit the Government against the Nation’s most sophisticated and experienced private counsel. Ms. Seidman has many times saved the United States millions of dollars of tax revenue, through the combination of her intellect and her passion for the law and courage to pursue the Government’s just interests. She has managed and developed less senior attorneys with aplomb. To every area of her responsibility and to every challenge, Ms. Seidman has brought boundless energy, enthusiasm, integrity, and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the tax laws. Her continuing capacity for work and to assume new and additional responsibilities is an inspiration. Ms. Seidman is recognized in and out of the Government as the embodiment of the highest standards of excellence in public service. She is, to so many who know her, a living legend.

The citation is consistent with my recollection of Millie.  She was a force in the Tax Division.

I will post a link to her obituary when I get it.

Addendum 10/4/19 8:30pm:  I received the following which is from an email sent by DAAG Richard Zuckerman to DOJ Tax personnel:

I am sorry to report the passing of our former colleague, Mildred Seidman, on October 3, 2019. Throughout her 50-year career with the Tax Division, Millie’s intellect, integrity and commitment to the law inspired and educated generations of Tax Division attorneys and administrative professionals, as well as tax practitioners and members of the judiciary.

Millie arrived at the Tax Division on October 17, 1955, and joined what was then known as the Compromise Section, the predecessor to the present Office of Review.  Millie rose to leadership positions in the Compromise Section, becoming its Assistant Chief in 1966 and its Chief in 1974.  Millie served as Chief of the Court of Federal Claims Section from 1985 until her retirement in 2005.Throughout her stellar career, she was a singularly productive and effective force for the fair, equal, and proper application of our nation’s tax laws. Her work as an litigator and a Chief earned her numerous awards, including the John Marshall Award, the Senior Executive Rank Award, and the Mary C. Lawton Award.

Millie’s contributions to the tax community reached beyond the Tax Division.  She served as President of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association, and remained an active member after her retirement.  In 1998, she was the first recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for “Dedicated and Selfless Commitment to Strengthening the Court as an Institution and Advancing the Cause of Justice.”  Millie was also awarded the prestigious Liles Award by the Federal Bar Association on Taxation.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, October 7, at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC 20016.  A reception there will follow.   Donations in her name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.