Fifty-four years ago, attorney Eugene Feingold was entrusted with the legal affairs of a small Northwest Indiana community.
Munster’s legal climate is far different today than it was in 1962, as people today are more than willing to settle their differences in a courtroom. But Feingold evolved with the times while serving as the legal hand helping guide the town through unprecedented periods of growth.
Feingold recently recalled his part in shepherding major projects, such as the new Munster Town Hall, Community Hospital, and numerous housing and business developments to completion. There’s also the well-known communitywide aesthetic that has maintained Munster as one of the premier communities in Northwest Indiana.
Feingold hasn’t won every battle, but he helped Munster prosper for more than five decades.
Feingold said of the Town Hall complex, “Councilman Russell Snyder told to me to ‘just make it big enough.’ I said we should put in a basement. He won. I lost.”
Feingold recently lost his position as town attorney when the Town Council hired David Westland to replace him.
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Feingold, 86, is at a loss to explain why his contract was not renewed.
“It’s a municipal appointment,” he said. “Every client has a right to pick his lawyer. For whatever reason, they have picked another.”
Feingold said he’s in no way retiring his Munster-based legal practice, adding that he’s feeling fit and that longevity is something of a family trait.
“Mr. Feingold was not in any way terminated,” said Town Council President John Reed, R-1st. “He is still doing a substantial amount of work for the town pursuant to a transition agreement — lawsuits, projects, advice, etc.”
Explaining the decision to bring in a new town attorney, Reed said, “The council simply felt that a new perspective and more strong minds working to make the town an even better place was a wise move.”
Feingold described his time as town attorney as a “fascinating, wonderful ride,” saying, “I’ve served the town and our residents well.”
He expressed pride in seeing Community Hospital thrive on Calumet Avenue, recalling the legal battle over the original site location proposal that would have placed the hospital on Ridge Road.
Munster has experienced a loss of institutional knowledge over the past few years that, in addition to Feingold, include Town Manager Thomas DeGuilio, former Town Engineer Jim Mandon and former fire Chief James Knesek, who died.
Beyond his accomplishments for Munster, Feingold said he is proud of his work as member of the Ingalls Hospital board of directors, for which he serves as chairman. Now he’s looking forward to working with officials from the University of Chicago hospitals on a merger with Ingalls, he said.
Whatever role he has held, Feingold said, considering the opinions of others has been important to his decision-making process.
“You have to listen,” he said.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.