Leadership
Denise Nordheimer, President-Elect
Denise D. Nordheimer is an experienced trusts and estates attorney whose practice focuses on long‑term planning, estate administration, and helping individuals and families navigate complex and sensitive matters with care and discretion. She is a partner in the Wilmington office of Fox Rothschild, where she advises fiduciaries on trust and estate administration, assists with disputes when they arise, and prepares comprehensive estate plans that reflect each client’s values, priorities, and charitable intent. Denise brings a holistic, service‑oriented approach to her work and has been recognized for her commitment to the legal profession and access to justice, including receiving a rare Letter of Commendation from the New Castle County Register of Wills. She is honored to serve as President‑Elect of the St. Thomas More Society and to support its mission of faith, fellowship, and service within the legal community.
Joe Klusman, Treasurer
Joe Klusman worked for the Legal Services Corporation of Delaware serving the needs of low-income tenants and defending consumer rights in the Justice of the Peace Courts, as well as in Unemployment Insurance Board disputes and appeals. Before serving in the legal services sector, he was an associate with a California probate and estates firm, where he advocated for the needs of will and trust beneficiaries. Joe currently works for Manning Gross + Massenburg in their Wilmington office. Joe received his J.D. from Delaware Law School in 2019. While pursuing a B.A. in business and marketing at Juniata College, Joe was a four-year letterman on the baseball team.
Michael Collins, President
Michael Collins is a corporate trust attorney at Richards, Layton & Finger, where he represents banks and trust companies in a wide range of commercial and structured finance transactions. His practice includes advising trustees on securitizations, leveraged leases, sale-leasebacks, and real estate financings across various industries. Michael earned his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Maryland in 1997 and his J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2003.
Margaretta Kroeger, Secretary
Margaretta Kroeger is the Communications Director at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI). With a background in social justice advocacy and a passion for public service, she works to elevate awareness of civil legal aid in Delaware. Margaretta brings a thoughtful, mission-driven approach to storytelling, helping bridge the gap between legal aid organizations and the communities they serve. She received her A.B. from Harvard College and her J.D. from Boston College Law School, where she was a Public Service Scholar.
Past Presidents
Richard D. Kirk, 1988-89
Paul E. Crawford, 1989-90
James P. Collins, Sr., 1990-91
Hon. Joseph T. Walsh, 1991-92
Harvey Bernard Rubenstein, 1992-93
Geoffrey D. Gamble, 1993-94
Susan D. Ament, 1994-95
J. R. Julian, 1995-96
Michael P. Kelly, 1996-97
Francis G.X. Pileggi, 1997-98
Matthew F. Boyer, 1998-99
Judith Schuenemeyer, 1999-2000
Thomas P. Sweeney, 2000-01
James J. Haley, Jr., 2001-02
Francis J. Trzuskowski, 2002-03
Mary M. Culley, 2003-04
Bryan Cochran, 2004-05
Diane M. Willette, 2005-06
Bernard G. Conaway, 2006-07
Thomas M. Horan, 2007-2008
Ryan P. Newell, 2008-2009
Susan Dixon, 2009-2010
Hon. Christopher J. Burke, 2010-2011
Peter F. Conaty, Jr., 2011-2012
Shannon S. Frazier, 2012-2013
Anthony G. Flynn, 2013-2014
Edward Dudley, 2014-2015
Christopher Viceconte, 2015-2016
Francis Mieczkowski 2016-2017
Sara Toner 2017-2018
Sara Bussiere 2018-2019
About the Society
Founded in 1988 with a dedicated group of attorneys from the Delaware Bar, the Society has grown into a thriving community committed to integrating faith and law. Today, our members continue to seek guidance from Saint Thomas More’s example, fostering meaningful discussions on ethics, justice, and faith in the legal profession.
“Lord, grant that I may be able in argument, accurate in analysis, strict in study, candid with clients, and honest with adversaries.
Sit with me, at my desk, and listen with me, to my client's plaints,
Read with me in my library and stand beside me in court, so that today
I shall not, in order to win a point, lose my soul.”
- St. Thomas More