Robert P Wylie

Honorable Robert P. Wylie PLATTSBURGH -- Hon. Robert P. Wylie, 78, of Champlain Drive, passed away Thursday October 9, 2008 at his home in Plattsburgh. Judge Wylie was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on February 23, 1930, the son of Henry Alexander Wylie and Rose H. (Needo) Wylie. His early years were spent in Ontario and Michigan. He commenced his collegiate education at University of Michigan and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1951 receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Thereafter, he graduated from Fordham University School of Law where he received a Doctor of Law Degree in June of 1954. Judge Wylie is survived by a son, Gregory Scott Wylie, of Essex Junction, Vermont, a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Wylie, of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and a son, Andrew John Wylie and his wife, Natalie B. Wylie, of Plattsburgh. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Molly Mulcahy Cordell and Katherine Elizabeth Cordell of Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Alexander Robert Wylie, Henry Michael Wylie, Jack Andrew Wylie, Peter Joseph Wylie and Isabelle Kate Wylie, all of Plattsburgh. He is also survived by Barbara (Ducharme) Wylie, Belinda and Ronald Fuller, step-grandchildren Elizabeth Lawrence, Abigal Lawrence, Ryan Lawrence, Madeline Fuller, Matthew Fuller and Owen Fuller, as well as Colleen and Robert Palmertree and step-grandchild Olivia Palmertree. Mr. Wylie was predeceased by his parents. Robert Wylie was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in October of 1954. He was thereafter admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, the United States District Court for the District Court of Vermont and the United States Court of International Trade. He became associated with the law firm of Leary, Fullerton and Sweeney in Saratoga Springs and Schenectady, New York in 1954 where he remained until he relocated to Plattsburgh in 1956. Upon arriving in Plattsburgh, he was associated with the law firm of Robinson and Holcombe until 1959. He was then associated in law practice with Louis P Meconi until 1969. In 1970, he became a member of the Law Firm Jerry, Lewis, Wylie & Lyon where he remained until 1986. Mr. Wylie went into private practice in 1986 until 1988 when he was joined by his son, the Hon. Andrew J. Wylie, in the firm of Wylie & Wylie until December 31, 2005, when Andrew was sworn in as Clinton County's District Attorney, having been elected on November 8, 2005. Robert Wylie handled several high profile civil and criminal cases in Clinton County, State and Federal Courts. His law practice also included the handling of personal injury cases for both plaintiffs and insurance carriers in Supreme Court and the handling of Estates in Surrogate's Court. One of Judge Wylie's most prominent cases was his representation of a defendant on appeal, who was acquitted of Murder First Degree, and thereafter convicted of Murder Second Degree for the same offense. On appeal, Mr. Wylie argued successfully before the Appellate Division that the defendant could not be tried a second time and convicted of Murder Second Degree on the same evidence on double jeopardy grounds. During the last years of his practice, he was assigned by the Appellate Division, Third Department, to represent appellants convicted of various crimes in counties throughout the Fourth Judicial District on appeals to the court. Judge Wylie continued in private practice until the time of his death. He was City Judge of the City of Plattsburgh from 1975 through 1990, and had been acting City Judge from 1966 to 1970. Between 1970 and 1975, he was the attorney for the Plattsburgh Housing Authority and Zoning Attorney for the Town of Plattsburgh. Judge Wylie was a member of the Clinton County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyer's Association, the New York Association of City Court Judges (President, 1985-1986), the New York State Magistrate's Association, and the Clinton County Magistrate's Association (President, 1985-1989). He was a member of Plattsburgh Council 255, Knights of Columbus where he served two years as Grand Knight. He also was a member of Elks Lodge 621 and an Officer in the 78th Fraser Highlanders York Garrison in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Judge Wylie was a communicant of St. John's Church since 1957 and was past President of St. John's Elementary School Board. Aside from his outstanding accomplishments in his legal career, Judge Wylie's most enjoyable moments were spent with his family and grandchildren as well as attending his children's and grandchildren's school and sporting events. Calling hours will be held Monday, October 13, 2008, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad Street in Plattsburgh. Members of the Knights of Columbus will meet Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. for services and members of the Elks Club will meet at 7:00 p.m. for services. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John's Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery in Plattsburgh. Donations in the memory of Robert P. Wylie may be made to Seton Academy, 23 St. Charles Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Online condolences may be offered and memorial candles may be lit at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com.