Judge Arthur Gajarsa joins board of United South End Settlements

SANDWICH – Retired federal judge Arthur Gajarsa, a Camp Hale alumnus and Holderness resident, has joined the Board of Directors of United South End Settlements, which owns and operates Camp Hale. Based in Boston’s South End, USES offers a variety of programs aimed at improving the education, health, safety, and economic security of individuals and families. USES’s Camp Hale program on Squam Lake in Sandwich is a seasonal overnight camp that serves over 225 Boston area youth per summer.

“My family immigrated to Boston from Italy when I was 8 years old and we participated in programs at settlement houses in the South End. The first summer I went to Camp Hale I could not yet speak English well, but I found a community that welcomed me,” said Gajarsa. “The staff at Camp Hale, and the experience of being away from home, gave me invaluable skills that I have carried with me throughout my life.”

Gajarsa is a Senior Counsel at WilmerHale, as well as a member of the adjunct faculty at Georgetown Law School and a Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Prior to joining WilmerHale, Judge Gajarsa had a long and distinguished career in the judiciary. He was nominated to the Federal Circuit in 1996 by President Clinton, confirmed by the US Senate in 1997, and served for 15 years, retiring in June 2012. Prior to his appointment, Judge Gajarsa was a well-recognized litigator who also practiced corporate law, intellectual property, securities law and general litigation with various law firms as a partner or principal officer. His career includes service at the Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, and Department of Defense.

“We are very excited to welcome Judge Gajarsa to the USES Board of Directors. He brings an enormous amount of experience and expertise that will serve our core mission as well as our vision for the future of USES,” said USES President and CEO Maicharia Weir Lytle. “It’s heartening to know that one of our signature programs, Camp Hale, has been an important part of his journey.”

“Judge Gajara’s first-hand experience of Camp Hale as a young boy, speaks to the impact of that program, and we are delighted that he has joined the board to help us continue to engage diverse communities in powerful ways and ensure equal opportunities for all individuals to achieve success,” said USES Board Chair Julia Johannsen.