Longtime local attorney and West Islip resident Jane Roberts Garvey

Jane Roberts Garvey in undated photo As the first woman graduate of Columbia Law School, Jane Roberts Garvey went on to achieve many other singular accomplishments in her life, including becoming one of the most influential women of Zonta International, a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.

Mrs. Garvey, a longtime West Islip resident and Babylon Village attorney died Feb. 8, 2009. In her 90s, she was still active in many of the charitable organizations that marked her long tenure of service.

Born in Manhattan, Mrs. Garvey was one of the youngest, and first, women to graduate from Columbia Law School. For more than 40 years, she and her husband Frank owned and operated a real estate and law office in their Argyle Square office in Babylon until he passed away in 1996. She had lived in West Islip for more than 50 years.

"She was a Willow O' the Wisp; she traveled throughout the world," said her friend of more than 65 years, Peg Rendich. "She was interested in everything and anything and sought to help children and was very influential in helping women in Africa, where she was part of the movement that helped to stop circumcision of women."

In addition to her work with Zonta International, the American Heart Association, the Good Samaritan Hospice, the United Way and the Greek War Relief, Mrs. Garvey also served on the boards of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Catholic League for the Deaf and the Suffolk County Mental Health Association.

"Jane was a lifetime devoted charter member of our organization who held several local and international leadership positions," said Phoebe Arancio from Zonta. "She will will be greatly missed."

Mrs. Garvey was the recipient of many awards and honors such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk (VIBS), Woman of the Year from Suffolk County Zonta Club, Lady Commander of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre from Pope John XXIII in 1977 and was an Honorary Big Sister of the Year.

She leaves behind her children: Jane Reilly and Frank; her grandchildren, Jessica, Buck and Michael; her great grandchild, Jackson and other relatives and many friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis and her daughter, Ellen.

Mrs. Garvey reposed at the Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons West Islip Funeral Home on Feb. 12, 2009. A Celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial was held Feb. 13, 2009 at St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Babylon. Interment followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Donations in Mrs. Garvey's name cane be sent to the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, P.O. Box 428, Holbrook, New York 11741 or to the Good Shepherd Hospice, 245 Old Country Road, Melville, New York 11747.