As our firm has announced, Will Krasnow, a partner in Constangy’s Immigration Practice Group, died Wednesday, October 2, after a brief illness. Will joined Constangy in 2011 and was based in our Boston Office.

He was a lawyer for more than 50 years, and was recently recognized by Boston Magazine as a top immigration lawyer. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marcia Lee (Kauffman) Krasnow.

Will obtained his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his law degree from Boston College. In law school, he was a member of the law review and was elected to the Order of the Coif, a prestigious national legal honor society. Upon graduation from law school in 1970, Will clerked for a judge on the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, served as human resources counsel for Raytheon for 21 years, and was a partner with another law firm before we were fortunate enough to have Will join Constangy.  

He was a brilliant immigration attorney, and took endless pride in changing people’s lives by helping them through the process of legally residing and working in the United States. In addition, Will was Executive Editor-Immigration for our legal bulletins and the author of nearly every immigration-related bulletin published by our firm. In that capacity, earlier this year he received “Top Author” recognition for 2023-24 in the JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards.

Beyond his academic, legal, and writing credentials, Will loved Boston sports – especially the Celtics, about whom he and Dave spent countless hours talking strategy (and celebrating this year’s title).

Will had a biting sense of humor. When Dave needled him, as a lifelong Democrat, for having a Ronald Reagan quote about immigration on his firm website bio, he replied, “You’re right – I’ll change it.” And he did – days later – with a quote from Republican President George H.W. Bush, which remained on his bio until the end. 

Will was a lay leader at his temple in Westwood, Massachusetts, where he often helped to conduct worship services, served twice as a congregational president, and served as a Board member for several decades.

He also sang as a cantor, and every now and then his colleagues in the Boston Office got a few bars from the lyrical lawyer in their midst. 

In contrast with his legal and cantoring abilities, Will was no tech genius, and he undoubtedly set a firm record for calls to Constangy’s IT Help Desk which will never, ever be beat. (Will, we say that with the deepest affection.)

As a person, Will was one of a kind. Gentle, thoughtful, sweet, deeply caring, and rooted in his spiritual and religious upbringing, yet interested in and respectful of other faiths. His kindness, softness, and caring knew no bounds. He was a true mensch in every sense of the word.  

Will will live forever in our hearts. (That is not a typo.) And as we begin year 5785 on the Hebrew calendar, may his memory be a blessing.