THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605010120
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: KATHRYN DARLING
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
A shiny toy pistol and a cowboy holster hang from a file cabinet in Jane Lewis' office at Hofheimer, Nusbaum, McPhaul & Samuels.
Sometimes she gets so angry at the lawyers that she threatens to shoot them all. She claims lawyers are perfectionists and that they change everything they have written. Everything. Three times.
Lawyers are a special breed of human beings, she said, ``different from doctors, insurance people, architects and any other profession.''
Lewis, who lives in the Belvedere section of Norfolk, has lots of experience with lawyers to back up what she says. This spring she celebrated her 50th year with Hofheimer, Nusbaum, McPhaul & Samuels.
She began working for the company as a legal secretary and for 46 years was the personal secretary of the firm's founder, Alan J. Hofheimer, until his death. She has served as personnel director for three decades.
Lewis has seen a lot of changes in these 50 years - electric typewriters, air conditioning, fax machines, computers and software such as Lotus and Windows.
But times haven't changed that much, she says.
``Even then, everyone wanted it done today,'' she said.
Lewis, 73, says she has no plans to retire.
``I'll probably be here till they kick me out or I die at my desk.''
Name: Jane Pendleton Lewis.
Nickname: ``Red.''
What brought you to Norfolk? My husband and I moved here after World War II because his mother was a resident.
Birthplace: Richmond.
Birthdate: June 2, 1922.
Occupation: Personnel director for Hofheimer, Nusbaum, McPhaul & Samuels.
Marital status: Widow.
Children: None.
Last book read: Patricia Cormwell's ``From Potter's Field.''
Favorite movie: All musicals.
Favorite magazines: Reader's Digest, Southern Living.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Although I admire many, I don't think I would want to change places with anyone.
Biggest accomplishment: Our happy marriage of 40 years.
Most embarrassing moment: Absent-mindedly raising an umbrella in an office building before a whole elevator full of people.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be more compassionate, less frank and more outgoing.
Favorite vacation spot: Emerald Isle, N.C.
Perfect way to spend the day: Puttering around the house and in the yard or curling up with a good book on a rainy day.
Pet peeve: Tardiness - and the new telephone system in banks and offices.
First job: Worked afternoons after high school for a lawyer in Wilmington, N.C.
Worst job: Behind the candy counter in a five-and-dime store.
Favorite restaurant: Ship's Cabin.
Hobbies: Reading, painting in oils, puttering in the garden, sewing.
What do you like most about Norfolk? The informality and friendliness of the people - the weather (until this year) - the nearness of the water.
What do you like least about Norfolk? I like most of it - but I wish the city officials would give the public a chance to vote on the way they spend money for large improvements more often. ILLUSTRATION: JIM WALKER
The Virginian-Pilot
by CNB