MEDIA COVERAGE
Nicholas M. Orloff featured in PivotToday for Delaware County Leadership
Nicholas M. Orloff, Esq., an attorney with Media-based Raffaele Puppio and who’s practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration and orphans’ court litigation, talks with PIVOT Today about growing up in Springfield, working at the Footlocker in the Springfield Mall, graduating Valedictorian of Widener Law School’s Class of 2005, his favorite weekend-getaway and how the best piece of advice he ever received saved him more than a few nicks and cuts.
What is your full name and who are you named after?
My full name is Nicholas Michael Jordan Orloff, Esq. Michael is my middle name and Jordan is the confirmation name that I chose when I was about 12 years old. So I guess I named myself after Michael Jordan.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Drexel Hill. I am a lifelong resident of Springfield, Delaware County, where I live with my wife and our four children.
What are some of your fondest memories of growing up in Springfield?
My fondest memories of growing up in Springfield are playing sports, especially playing basketball at Springfield’s various parks. I could not have asked for a better place to grow up.
What do you like most about Delaware County?
My favorite thing about living and working in Delaware County is that many people that grew up here either never leave or they return to Delco to raise their own families. Many of my childhood friends are now raising their own children in Springfield and I am able to see them on regular basis.
If you want to raise your family in an affordable, suburban area that is close to a major city like Philadelphia, then Delaware County is a great place to live.
What did your parents do?
My father was a salesman. My mother stayed at home to raise me and my four siblings. My mother had her hands full.
Where was your first job?
My first job was at Footlocker in the Springfield Mall. Working at Footlocker gave me a great opportunity to earn my own money and interact with co-workers and customers from all parts of Delaware County. I also got a steep discount on sneakers, which made me pretty popular.
Where did you go to college?
I earned a Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Lima, PA. I went to PSU-Brandywine because it had a great reputation, it was very affordable and it was close to home. I was also lucky in that I was able to take some excellent pre-law classes there that were taught by a practicing attorney during my junior and senior years.
Where did you go to law school?
I obtained my law degree from Widener University School of Law (now known as Widener University: Delaware Law School). I graduated summa cum laude and had the distinct honor of being named the Valedictorian of the Class of 2005.
Widener was a great fit for me. The teachers were all excellent and my class-mates were a lot of fun.
Why did you choose to go into your particular area of law?
My legal practice at Raffaele Puppio focuses on estate planning, estate administration and orphans’ court litigation. I enjoy helping clients plan for their families’ future, as well as give them guidance when a loved one has passed away.
Many people do not understand that without the proper estate planning documents in place, there is no way to ensure that their wishes will be honored if they become incapacitated or when they pass away. At a minimum, every person should have a Last Will and Testament, General Durable Power of Attorney and Durable Health Care Power of Attorney/Living Will.
I also currently have the privilege of serving as outside legal counsel for various government agencies in Pennsylvania, including the Department of Revenue and Department of Human Services.
Are you involved in the community? If so, in what ways?
Most of my free time in the community is spent attending sports practices, games and events for my children.
Who was your most important mentor?
My most important mentors were Mike Cordone, Esq. and Mark Dorval, Esq. I worked for Mike and Mark’s law firm for five years after graduating law school. They were down-to-earth guys and very, very smart lawyers.
Who is your hero? Why?
My current hero is Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles for obvious reasons.
However, my role models are definitely my mom and dad. They have been happily married for almost 40 years and they provided my sisters and me with a stable, loving and often hilarious home environment.
I just hope that my kids will say the same thing about my wife and me when they are older.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is collecting 90’s retro basketball sneakers. I am fully aware that I am too old for this behavior and if I were my client I would tell me to stop immediately and start saving the money for my children’s college tuitions.
What is your favorite Delaware County restaurant?
My favorite Delaware County restaurant is Seven Stones Café in Media. It is casual dining establishment that serves breakfast and lunch. The people are friendly, the food is healthy and the coffee is the best.
Where is your favorite weekend-getaway destination?
My favorite weekend-getaway destination is Ocean City, NJ. I have great memories vacationing there as a kid and hopefully my kids are now making their own happy memories.
If you could change one thing about the Delaware Valley, what would it be?
I wish that we had warmer weather and (much) less snow.
What is the last book you read? Why/why not would you recommend it?
The last book that I read was My Struggle (Book Five) by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It is a six-book autobiography about an average man’s daily life in Norway. The premise may sound mundane, but the main character is so relatable that you can’t put the book down.
I would highly recommend this series to anyone. Book Six will be released this fall and I can’t wait.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
After years of giving myself nicks and cuts, someone finally told me to shave my face with the grain instead of against the grain. I don’t remember who told me that, but I owe them a thank you.