A Full Circle Friendship: Remembering Ben Hauptman
Back in the Hood
Last Sunday, May 3, 2026, I was “back in the hood” (Alexandria, Virginia) to celebrate the life of Benjamin J. Hauptman. It was a gathering filled with stories, laughter, reflection, and love, exactly the kind of farewell that fit a man like Ben.
Where It All Began
I first met Ben in 1990 when I interviewed to become the firm administrator for Lowe, Price, LeBlanc & Becker. I got the job, and at the time Ben was a new partner, what I affectionately referred to as the “baby partner.” I was learning my new role while also trying to understand the intricacies of intellectual property law and the practice itself.
Over the next 36 years, our paths would cross through different seasons of life and career. During that time, Ben became many things to me: a boss, colleague, mentor, friend, and eventually, once again, a client.
He attended my wedding in 1992. He wished me well when I left the firm to move to South Carolina. He sent gifts when my children were born. Like many lifelong friendships, our communication could sometimes be brief or scattered because life gets busy, but the connection was always there.
A Full Circle Moment
In 2018, we experienced a true full circle moment when Ben contacted me about working with his firm, Hauptman Ham, LLP. After all those years, we found ourselves working together again, this time with a much deeper appreciation for the journey behind us.
A Life Larger Than the Profession
The memorial gathering at Joe Theismann's Restaurant reflected the kind of life Ben lived. Friends and family shared stories of fishing trips, aviation adventures, marathon running, patent law, travel, chili cook offs, and the countless ways Ben encouraged others to think bigger and aim higher.
Born on January 27, 1955, in Washington Heights, New York, Ben was the son of Holocaust survivors Fred and Beatrice Hauptman. His life itself was a testament to resilience and possibility. He earned an engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and went on to become a distinguished patent attorney, combining technical brilliance with an instinct for people and opportunity.
But Ben’s legacy extends far beyond the legal profession.
Over nearly four decades, he employed hundreds of people, mentored attorneys and professionals, sponsored visas, and helped change the course of countless lives. He believed in giving people opportunities, not handouts, but opportunities to work hard, grow, and succeed. He genuinely wanted people to do well.
A Gentle Giant
Ben was larger than life, but he was also a gentle giant. He cared deeply about people, his family, colleagues, employees, and neighbors. To be in his circle was to experience genuine care and generosity, not only for people, but for life itself.
He was always moving forward. Whether it was earning his pilot’s license as a teenager, running marathons, planning his next international adventure, or building something new at the firm, Ben approached life with energy and curiosity. As his son Josh shared during the memorial, the question was never about looking backward. It was always: “What’s next? Where are we going?”
That spirit of “Carpe Diem,” seize the day, defined him.
Lessons That Last
Ben taught me many things over the years. We shared some wonderful times together, and in the early years we also worked through difficult issues and challenges that taught me lessons I still carry today. Looking back now, I realize how much I learned during those moments, about leadership, perseverance, expectations, and relationships.
The older I get, the more I appreciate the people who helped shape my life and career, even during the difficult seasons. Ben was one of those people.
His Legacy Lives On
His earthly life has ended, but his legacy continues in the lives of the people he touched and impacted, including mine.
For those of us fortunate enough to know him, perhaps the best way to honor Ben is to keep moving forward with purpose, curiosity, generosity, and gratitude, embracing life fully and making the most of the time we are given, just as he did every single day.