Lawyer John Kirschner died Sunday at his winter home in Florida. He was 80.

Kirschner served of counsel to the firm of Damon & Morey LLP, where he practiced in the corporate and real estate departments. He'd previously been a senior partner at Saperston & Day and of counsel to Hiscock & Barclay.

An active member of the New York and Erie County bar associations, he last year received the Bar Association of Erie County's Charles H. Dougherty Civility Award.

Kirschner was active with many charitable organizations. He served on the boards of such organizations as Child and Adolescent Treatment Services, Buffalo Prep and the Arthritis Foundation of Western New York and held volunteer leadership roles for the United Way, Catholic Charities, Diabetes Association and Canisius High School. He also served terms as president of the Erie County Bar Foundation and the Central Referral Service. He also had served as a director of the Buffalo Club, of which he was a longtime member.

A native of Lowville, Kirschner was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1945-47, assigned to the Caribbean Defense Command and Panama Canal Zone.

He went on to receive his undergraduate degree in economics from Cornell University in 1951 and his law degree from Cornell Law School in 1953.

Known to many as "Mr. Cornell," he was awarded Cornell's Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award in 2002, the title of "foremost benefactor of Cornell" in 1998, and lifetime membership on Cornell's University Council in 1996. Active in Cornell admissions, Kirschner chaired the Mabel Merritt Scholarship Committee in Buffalo for many years.

His extensive Cornell activities included leadership roles for the Cornell Club of Buffalo, law school's Dean's Advisory Council and Law School Alumni Association.

As a charter member of the university's Real Estate Council, he helped create the first courses ever offered in that specialty.

Kirschner is survived by Mary Alyce, his wife of 40 years, a step-daughter, Logan Blanco of Charlottesville, Va., two cousins and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Calling hours will be held at Amigone Funeral Home, 1132 Delaware Ave., Friday, Jan. 25, from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1035 Delaware Ave., Saturday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m.