Pioneering condominium association lawyer Shifrin dies at 76

Jordan Shifrin, a pioneer in condominium association law, died Monday in Italy at age 76.

His wife of 55 years, Rookie Shifrin, posted on Facebook the two had spent a week in Cortona when he suffered a massive stroke Sunday after ordering a bottle of his favorite wine.

“I know that he will missed by many people but most of all our grandchildren children and me,” his wife wrote.

Shifrin, who lived in Buffalo Grove before retiring to Florida, represented condo associations throughout the Chicago area. He also wrote a column for the Daily Herald, Condo Talk, that runs to this day, now penned by Matthew Moodhe.

Shifrin established the firm Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit in 1983. Over the years, Shifrin advised condominium, homeowner and townhouse associations through legal labyrinths, while helping boards and managers handle operational and planning issues.

“He was always on the leading edge of the law practice in this area,” David Bendoff, a retired principal with KSN who continued writing the Condo Talk column after Shifrin retired, said. “He was a very personable individual. Clients felt at ease around him.”

KSN Managing Partner Ryan Shpritz said the firm continues to feel his impact.

“He was a mentor to many of us, guiding us, coaching us and cheering us as we grew and developed at this firm,” he said.

Shpritz said Shifrin was a Renaissance man with interests that included film, American history and culture.

After he moved to Florida, Shifrin taught continuing education classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College in Sarasota, Florida. His classes included The Great American Musical, Hitchcock, Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers.

“I would stand at his door for hours and talk about movies and TV shows,” Shpritz said.