Samuel S Blaufeld
1927 - 2011
Sam Blaufeld practiced law in Pittsburgh for over 56 years. Born in Braddock and raised in East Pittsburgh, Sam worked his way through the University of Pittsburgh Law School after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After three years of private practice and three more with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Sam spent the next decade practicing all aspects of labor law as Trial Attorney and Supervising Attorney with the National Labor Relations Board. Nine years as Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration broadened his knowledge of Social Security disability claims. Sam served as Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Several years ago, in conjunction with Workers Compensation Judge David Torrey and the Law School at the University of Pittsburgh, Sam established a practicum on workers’ compensation to enable law students to learn about and experience the nuts and bolts of workers’ compensation, the area of law practice he loved.
Sam founded our firm, which bears his name, in 1981. Over the next thirty years, Sam taught us all the value of preparedness and hard work. He valued each and every client and taught us to treat each client as we would want to be treated. He never lost sight of the importance of each client’s individual situation and worked tirelessly for every client he represented. Sam was an example of what every lawyer should aspire to be. He considered the practice of law to be a calling and not just a job. We are committed to maintaining Sam’s work ethic and we share his determination to make the lives of working and disabled people better.
Throughout his professional life, Sam used his talent and experience to help our clients protect their rights. He believed that there was no worthier mission than advocacy for working families and disabled people. During his long practice, Sam mentored many new attorneys, including his partners and the associates in his firm, and students at the University of Pittsburgh. Many defense attorneys practicing in Pittsburgh still remember their initial meetings with Sam, and expressed that he was a tough adversary but a true gentleman.
Sam was married to his wife, Lois and had a son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons who were at the center of his life.