Richard Halberstein · 1996 Honoree

Rick Halberstein, born and raised in Marion, Ohio, “met” and learned to love Washington, D.C. as a college Intern. The time between then and his relocation to Washington included law school and a stint as a teacher at an Ohio inner city high school. At the latter, Rick experienced the impact of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the first of two profound events in his life. The second occurred here when he was among the hostages held at the District Building by the Hanafi Muslims. Throughout that ordeal Rick lay on the floor next to a man who had been shot. Now Rick says, “I don’t think much about the future.” Instead he focuses on what he can do in the present.

That focus has led him to analyze both the needs of our neighborhood and what he can do to help. After working in all three branches of government he opened his law practice to fill what was then a void on Capitol Hill. No other firm specialized in service to small businesses and organizations faced with tax issues or certain aspects of real estate law. On the volunteer side, Rick helped organize the annual “Tax Clinic,” still operating under the auspices of the Capitol Hill Group Ministry more than 20 years later. Three other organizations are key recipients of Rick’s volunteer efforts: Friendship House, where he served on the Board of Directors for a decade; Friends of Tyler School to which Rick offers legal advice as well as tutoring; and the CHAMPS Foundation, for which Rick provides legal assistance and serves as treasurer.

Rick views Capitol Hill as being like a small home town, but a much better place to live, especially with his wife Janet and step-children Elizabeth and David. Rick succinctly states that his value to the Hill i s that he’s dependably here. Indeed, Rick Halberstein is one who enhances the community stability on which we all depend.