Maureen “Mo” McCully Winograd
VLJ Statement on Maureen “Mo” McCully Winograd’s Passing
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is deeply saddened by the passing of Maureen McCully Winograd, affectionately known as "Mo," a visionary and beloved founding director of VLJ. Mo passed away at the age of 79 on Friday, September 5.
Mo's dedication to the legal community in Essex County and beyond was lifelong. She spent over 25 years serving as the Executive Director of the Essex County Bar Association (1978-2003), tirelessly advocating for access to justice and a fierce champion of pro bono.
Karen Sacks (L), Mo, and Cathy Keenan (R).
This same passion was foundational to Mo's work with VLJ. In 2000, Mo along with partners at McCarter & English, LLP and Gibbons P.C., saw that the legal services offices in Essex County were overwhelmed with requests for help from community members. Recognizing the untapped potential of the private bar, VLJ’s history began as a subcommittee of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County thanks to Mo’s leadership with the Foundation. Mo went on to serve on VLJ’s Board of Trustees from 2001-2016.
Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director, offered, “Mo was one of the visionaries who built Volunteer Lawyers for Justice from the ground up. Her commitment to justice and to Essex County were a powerful force for good, and the spirit of service she championed lives on in every staff member, volunteer, and client. We are all standing on the strong foundation Mo so carefully laid, and we will honor her legacy by continuing to build on it."
Mo serving as master of ceremonies at VLJ’s 2003 wine tasting.
Karen Sacks, VLJ’s founding Executive Director, remarked, “Maureen ‘Mo’ McCully was truly a force of nature, dedicating her life to confronting injustice through the many organizations she led and championed. At VLJ, she not only envisioned a pro bono program for Essex County, she ensured its launch then guided it with unwavering commitment for 18 years, helping to shape VLJ into the statewide leader it is today. Her legacy endures in the countless causes she advanced and the many individuals whose lives were forever changed by her unrelenting passion and service. For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside her for decades, she embodied a standard of dedication, humanity, and friendship that was truly rare and deeply inspiring."
Mo and her memory are etched into the very fabric of our mission. We are profoundly grateful for her foresight, care, and compassion, and will continue doing what she set out to do decades ago: ensure access to justice.
Thank you, Mo, and rest peacefully in justice!