Matthew Baxter, Former Council Ambassador, AILA Chapter Chair, Colleague and Friend
On September 15, 2011, Philadelphia AILA member Matthew Baxter passed away from complications of liver disease. He was 53 years old.
Philadelphia’s AILA chapter treasured Matthew as a person who made membership in the association worthwhile. He took on many roles for the Philadelphia Chapter, serving as a Chapter Officer and Chapter Chair, committee chair, mentor, speaker and friend. He was always willing to teach his fellow members, whether at a CLE, on a phone call, or in the hallway outside immigration court. He was deeply involved with education, advocacy and practice support. He served as Chapter Liaison to USCIS and EOIR, working tirelessly on behalf of the Chapter and cooperatively with the agencies to develop solutions to everyday challenges.
He also served two years as Ambassador for the American Immigration Council (AIC), formerly known as AILF. He was a model Ambassador, raising awareness about the organization and its work, touting the accomplishments of the Legal Action Center and Immigration Policy Center, promoting the Creative Writing Contest, attending events as a representative of the AIC and raising money for the organization. His work, his drive and his commitment as an Ambassador helped strengthen the AIC.
Matthew cared deeply about his clients and doing the best job possible for them. His cases were meticulously prepared and elegantly argued. He loved the law and he understood how to use it as a tool for justice.
Matthew was generous with his time not only to AILA and the AIC, but also as a volunteer for the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Volunteers for the Indigent Program and the Philadelphia chapter of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, on whose board he served for over 15 years. Through his volunteerism, he was able to multiply his generosity a thousand fold. He was an example to his peers on the meaning of “giving back.”
More than anything, his friends and colleagues remember Matthew’s love of life, and his enjoyment of good food shared with good friends. He was a person whose deep respect and care for other people was evident even to those who only met him briefly. He was the consummate gentleman and the kind of friend with whom you could share your joys or sorrows, or just spend time, and feel better when you left than before you’d arrived.
On behalf of the Philadelphia Chapter of AILA and the AIC, we note the passing of Matthew Baxter, Esquire, a friend, a mentor, a colleague and a role model. He will surely be missed but those who knew him will seek to honor his memory through our service, our advocacy and our pursuit of justice for those in need.