David J. Saleh, well-known attorney, judge and community volunteer, died on Thursday after a short battle with brain cancer, leaving behind many heartbroken colleagues and friends. He was 67 years old.
“As my former partner (with Oshlag, Saleh & Earl), Dave was an excellent attorney in all areas of the law, and especially liked the challenge of criminal law and criminal trials,” said Kevin Earl, current Genesee County attorney, as he fought back the tears. “More importantly, he was an outstanding human being – very involved in his community through civic activities.”
Saleh lived in the Village of Corfu for many years before relocating to the city in 2013. Last December, he was appointed as part-time City Court judge, filling the vacancy created by former part-time Justice Durin Rogers’ election to the full-time post.
Both Rogers and Paula L. Feroleto, administrative judge of the Eighth Judicial District in Buffalo, expressed their sadness at Saleh’s passing.
“The City of Batavia and our community have experienced a great loss,” Rogers said. “I will very much miss my friend and colleague Judge David Saleh. Judge Saleh had a passion for the law and was highly regarded by his friends and colleagues on the bench and bar.
“He strove to be just and compassionate, treating people who came before him with fairness. I learned from him both as an attorney and a judge. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Feroleto said that the “judges and nonjudicial employees at Batavia City Court and the Genesee County Courthouse will very much miss Judge Saleh.”
“During his brief tenure as a Batavia City Court Judge, he was a diligent, hard-working jurist,” she said. “He enjoyed a reputation of being kind to the staff at the court. Despite experiencing personal health challenges, he continued his work on the bench to serve the public in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a consummate professional and will be missed by the Court.”
Prior to accepting the city judge position, Saleh served as the City of Batavia Republican Committee chair.
“Dave was just a great asset to this community, and not only respected by Republicans, but also by many of our Democratic friends,” said Richard Siebert, chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party. “He was so dedicated – fund raising for the party and instrumental in getting great candidates for the City of Batavia.”
Siebert said he was impressed by Saleh’s dedication to any cause that he supported.
“He was so active. Some people get in and then get out, but when Dave got into something, he stuck with it,” said Siebert, also mentioning that Saleh was a well-respected attorney and served as party chairman for the Town of Batavia for many years.
Saleh had been a lawyer for more than 40 years, with experience in various disciplines, including being both a defense attorney and prosecutor as well as practicing corporate and municipal law.
Saleh, vice president/general counsel for Inlighten Inc., of Clarence, also was involved in several community and civic organizations, including president of the Batavia Lions Club and was recognized for his volunteer efforts to support the residents of Corfu.
In September, he was honored by the Village of Corfu with the dedication of a new bench at the village hall.
As indicated in a story on The Batavian, Saleh used his legal expertise to help the village and the volunteer fire department. In 1995, he helped lead the effort to create a fire district to support the department and relieve the village of the expense. He's volunteered with the department for more than 40 years.
Three months earlier, Corfu volunteer firefighters supported Saleh in his fight against cancer by conducting a parade past his home and showing off their new fire engine tanker.
Telephone calls to Corfu Mayor Tom Sargent for comment on Saleh’s passing were not returned at the time of the posting of this story.
Saleh is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and four children. His obituary can be found by clicking on the Obituaries tab at the top of this page.
