It’s been seven years since David Steinbrecher served as legal counsel for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). But he left a lasting impression during his AICP tenure from 1989-’97. Steinbrecher is a familiar surname to AICP rank and file. David’s father, Stephen Steinbrecher, has been longstanding legal counsel for the AICP, contributing so much to the organization’s success that in ’01 he received the coveted Jay B. Eisenstat Award for outstanding service to the commercial production industry. Stephen and David Steinbrecher worked together on AICP, with the dad being lead counsel.
Yet while his father cast a giant shadow, David Steinbrecher emerged from it to be highly regarded by AICP officers and members. Sadly, the younger Steinbrecher passed away from a heart attack on Monday, Nov. 29. He was 45.
AICP president/CEO Matt Miller recalled Steinbrecher with great fondness and respect. Miller’s recollection also fittingly elicited a smile: "David had a great sense of humor—a dry sort of Woody Allen kind of wit. He brightened situations with his jokes and observations."
At the same time, Miller noted that Steinbrecher was "very involved" in the AICP, attending all of its board meetings and dealing with day-to-day business—mostly in the labor arena. On behalf of AICP, he also had much to do with the Directors Guild of America’s commercial qualifications list. Miller related that the memorial service for Steinbrecher in Westport, Conn., drew considerable industry turnout—an acknowledgement of the late attorney’s positive contributions to the AICP and the genuine goodwill he generated.
That goodwill extended to all his endeavors, including his last professional role as labor manager for the city of West Palm Beach, Fla. Stephen Steinbrecher related that the mayor of West Palm Beach told him that David was able to interject his sense of humor into the most serious negotiations, helping to break tension, put situations into perspective and bring people together.
When David Steinbrecher left the AICP in ’97, he moved from New York to West Palm Beach, initially working in the hotel industry and later taking on the aforementioned labor manager duties. He was accomplished prior to joining the AICP. He served as law clerk for a federal judge in Connecticut and had a hand in two state senatorial campaigns for Lowell Weicker—a victory in ’82 and a defeat in ’88 (to Joseph Lieberman). Weicker went on to become governor of Connecticut.
Steinbrecher was also very much into animal rights, with Miller recalling that he was a big lover of dogs, particularly dachshunds. Miller also noted that Steinbrecher was open to all kinds of pursuits. "I remember him talking about taking the New York City civil service exam and becoming a cop," said Miller. It was a "whim," observed Miller, guided by his sense of the world being full of different opportunities.
David Steinbrecher is survived by his parents, Stephen and Phyllis, sisters Marcy Puklin and Laura Li Vigni, three nieces and a nephew.
Donations can be made in David’s memory to Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610, or to Safe Harbor, 185 East Indian Town Road, Jupiter, FL 33458, or PAWS at 552 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851. Safe Harbor and PAWS are no-kill animal shelters. Donors can also contribute to any favorite no-kill shelter in their local communities.
