Howard Gittis

] Little of his work as a lawyer attracted public attention, save for his work for politician Frank Rizzo, who he successfully defended from an attempt to recall by various activist groups.

Gittis & Perelman first met back in the 1970's when Perelman still worked for his father, Raymond. They hit it off immediately and kept in touch even when Perelman was in New York and Gittis remained in Philidelphia. In 1985, while working on the Revlon deal with Perelman, Gittis finally formally jumped ship to Perelman's MacAndrews & Forbes where he remained until his death. Also in 1985, Gittis was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the top 100 Attorney's in the country.Cite web|url=http://www2.nysun.com/article/62939|title=Howard Gittis, 73, Businessman, Perelman Adviser|accessdate=2007-04-01|publisher=New York Sun|year=2007|author=Stephen Miller]

Family

Howard Gittis was the son of immigrants and the first in his family to go to college. He was formally married twice. He had three daughters with his first wife, Sondra before they divorced. Howard lived with Lynette Elizabeth Baldwin King for 20 years. After being introduced by Ronald Perelman's first cousin, they were engaged & married at their apartment in Manhattan in September of 1991. Despite being married, he carried on an illicit affair with another woman, resulting in the refusal by her to abort an unwanted pregnancy. Howard supported this illigitimate issue financially with restrictions as required by law and named thus issue in his will to protect his family from a claim against his estate upon his death. Lynette & Howard remained together until his death as Mr. & Mrs. Howard Gittis.Cite web|url=http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/2706|title=Remembering Howard|accessdate=2007-04-01|publisher=New York Social Diary|year=2007|author=David Patrick Columbia]

Death

After having dinner at home on a Sunday night, he went to sleep, but never woke up: His heart stopped beating in the night.Cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=atLiQ3kjvrlo&refer=us|title=Howard Gittis, Adviser to Ronald Perelman, Dies at 73|accessdate=2007-04-02|publisher=Bloomberg News|year=2007|author=Mark Schoifet] His body was found the next day after he failed to show up for work. Cite web|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/09182007/business/financier_gittis_is_dead_at_73.htm|title=Howard Gittis, Adviser to Ronald Perelman, Dies at 73|accessdate=2007-04-02|publisher=New York Post|year=2007|author=Paul Tharp]

Notes and references

Persondata
NAME=Gittis, Howard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Businessman, attorney
DATE OF BIRTH= February 1, 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
DATE OF DEATH=September 17, 2007
PLACE OF DEATH=New York, New York