In Memoriam: Elaine Litwer

We regret to inform you of the untimely passing of Elaine Litwer, president of Bayside, N.Y.-based E.L. Leasing Corp. and legislative coordinator of the National Vehicle Leasing Association.

For more than 25 years Elaine championed the rights of vehicle lessors. In 1982, she became active in her efforts to repeal vicarious-liability provisions, after she paid out $9.2 million in a case involving a lessee. Her activism and numerous visits to Albany, N.Y., finally paid off when President George W. Bush signed the Transportation Equity Act, a 2005 law that effectively abolishes vicarious liability laws nationwide.

Elaine received the first-ever Auto Finance Excellence Award, bestowed by Auto Finance News, in 2005.

Elaine passed away on April 5. Contributions may be made to Elaine’s favorite charity: The Grand Street Settlement, Attn: Development Dept., 80 Pitt Street, New York, New York 10002.

-The Editors

Note: We invite AutoFinanceNews.net members to share their memories of Elaine in comments to this post.