Over 25 years ago, a simple coffee meeting with Professor Becky Morgan quietly changed the course of Attorney Falco’s career and ultimately led him into the field of elder law. That relationship and the path it set in motion were on full reflection recently as Attorney Falco returned to his alma mater, Stetson University College of Law, to reconnect with the people and memories that shaped his professional journey.
During his visit, he had the opportunity to sit down with two of his former professors, as well as the director of alumni, all of whom have been at the law school for over three decades.
Anthony especially enjoyed the banter and fun memories he shared with Professor Sally Waters. Anthony lived on campus during his time at the law school, which was adjacent to the law library, where Professor Waters also served as the librarian. It would be easy to joke that “Attorney Falco rarely visited the law library”; however, law school is very much unlike college, and use of the law library was both frequent and vital. Perhaps Attorney Falco, despite being a frequent visitor to the library, was not always fully engaged — hence some of the fun memories and, dare we say, shenanigans, some of which Professor Waters either recounted or heard for the first time.
The director of alumni, Patricia Toups, pulled out yearbooks and, without hesitation, rattled off the names of Attorney Falco’s classmates while giving an overview of their distinguished careers and current whereabouts. She was also able to do the same with many of the law professors who have come and gone over the years. Talking to Patty brought back fond memories, as well as some sadness, as a few have passed away. Mostly, however, it brought gratitude for three great years at Stetson University College of Law and for Attorney Falco’s ability to turn that experience into his elder law practice.
As the saying goes, “last but not least,” Attorney Falco had the opportunity to sit down with his elder law mentor, Professor Becky Morgan—the relationship that ultimately set him on his career path in elder law. Over 25 years ago, when Attorney Falco still held out hope of becoming a sports agent (half kidding), Professor Morgan reached out and said, “I’m attending a conference in Boston next week. Please come and have a cup of coffee with me.” This was not intended to be just a cup of coffee. It was more like a mob hit — or perhaps a cult meeting — for a little-known industry called elder law. Professor Morgan’s intent, which was exquisitely executed, was to convince Attorney Falco to join the ever-growing and much-needed elder law and elder care industry. As the saying also goes, she had him at “hello.”
Professor Morgan is an icon in the industry and a past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). As stated before, she is Attorney Falco’s true mentor, and he shall forever be grateful to her. Anthony also told Professor Morgan that for every person he has ever represented and/or helped, she has been a part of that accomplishment.
To read more about Professor Morgan’s outstanding career, please follow this link.
