Thomas M. Whalen III was a firm partner from 1964 to 1988. He was educated at Manhattan College and Albany Law School. He was politically ambitious, and a protégé of partner Eugene Devine who connected him with legendary Democratic party leader Dan O’Connell. In 1969, with the help of Devine, Whalen was elected as an Albany City Court Judge where he served until 1975. In 1981, he was handpicked by longtime Albany Mayor Erastus Corning to be his successor. In that year, Whalen was elected as President of the Albany Common Council, and became mayor on Corning’s death in 1983. He served for three terms, and was considered to have reformed and modernized Albany’s finances and instilled a new civic pride in its citizens.
While he was mayor in 1987 the firm merged with Nolan & Heller and became known as Cooper, Erving, Savage, Whalen, Nolan & Heller. After Whalen withdrew from the firm in 1988, due to conflicts of interest, the firm was known as Cooper, Erving, Savage, Nolan & Heller. The firm subsequently demerged in 2001 and again became known as Cooper Erving & Savage. Upon his retirement as mayor he returned to the firm. In 2002, Whalen died in a one-car automobile accident. It should be noted that Whalen was the second firm member to serve as Albany mayor. Teunis Van Vechten was a four term mayor in early 19th Century.
