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After a fine
academic and athletic career at GCS, Kris attended Virginia Wesleyan
College, for two years, playing on the basketball team. He
transferred to St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY) and graduated
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. Following college
graduation, Kris spent two and a half years living and working in
Rochester, where he met and married his wife, Rene'. Kris and Rene'
moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, for Kris to attend the Stetson
University College of Law. He earned a Juris Doctor degree, cum
laude, in 2001 and after over four years in Florida, the Vurraros
returned home to Upstate New York. Kris began his law career at
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP and after ten years in the firm, he was
recently elected partner, a position which will begin, officially,
on January 1, 2011. The Rochester Daily Record has named Kris a 2010
“Up and Coming Attorney.”
Remembering his GCS years, spanning back more than twenty years,
Kris cites definite advantages in his education. “Greenwich Central
not only provided the necessary academic building blocks, but did so
in a caring and nurturing environment. I really believe that GCS
helped me to become a well rounded individual, both socially and
scholastically. The 'small town' attitude allowed each student to
get the individualized attention needed and I always felt like the
educators at GCS really knew me and knew what it took to steer me in
the best direction. That 'personal touch' is something that I’ve
tried to carry over into my own professional life when dealing with
clients.”
 Kris
especially admired and learned from a group of staff members. “I had
great relationships with so many of the faculty at GCS, particularly
Mr. Nolder and Mr. Morabito, who always kept learning fun and
interesting. And, the English department, who were crucial in
helping develop what would eventually be my trade – Mrs. Degner.
Mrs. Brown, Ms. Lynch (Hathaway) and Ms. Vega (Goodman). But, my two
biggest mentors at GCS had to be Coach John Traver and Pat Morris.
From them, I learned the importance of pushing myself to get the
most out of my abilities, both on the court and in the classroom.
They each, in their own ways, instilled in me a competitive drive,
toughness and a will to succeed that has carried over into my
professional life. Basketball was a huge part of my life in high
school and continuing through college, where I played at the D-III
level for Virginia Wesleyan and St. John Fisher. I still play twice
a week, and now I get to pass along
Rene',
Lexi and Kris
my love for the game to my children. My
daughter, Abby, has just started organized basketball and I am an
assistant coach for her team.”
Asked about the qualities necessary to be successful in his field,
Kris reflects: “The most successful lawyers that I’ve come across
display a unique combination of intelligence, integrity,
determination and sacrifice. They also stay true to their own values
while working as tireless advocates for their clients.”
Tellingly, these are characteristics Kris admires in his personal
heroes, foremost of which are his parents, Frank and Claire Vurraro.
Kris says of his parents: “they instilled in me all of the qualities
that I value most highly: faith in Christ, integrity, compassion,
determination and a strong work ethic. Not a day goes by where I
don’t draw on the wisdom and values that were imbued in me by my
parents, to whom I owe so much. My mother has always exemplified
what it means to be loving and compassionate, and has served as my
touchstone for how to treat others with respect and caring.” With
respect to his father, Kris was quoted by the Daily Record saying: “
[i]f my career is hallmarked by the same respect and strength of
character as my father’s, then I will consider myself exceedingly
successful.”
 The
Daily Record also quotes Kris on his personal life: “Spending time
with my wife, René and my two daughters, Abby, age eight, and Lexi,
age six, is my favorite pastime. I love all sports (like I said, I
played some basketball in college, and I’ve played in a weekly Woods
Oviatt basketball game for eight years), but anyone who knows me
knows that I’m half jock/half geek. I’m deeply involved in
hobby-style board games (I get together weekly with a group of
gaming buddies). I love video games, I’ve collected comic books for
years and I love science fiction books and television.”
Kris lives in Bergen, New York, a rural suburb about twenty-five
minutes west of Rochester, with Rene', Abby and Lexi. He is the son
of Frank and Claire Vurraro, of Greenwich and has three siblings:
Kathy (Vurraro) Newell (a Burnt Hills HS graduate), Kim (Vurraro)
Vanyo (GCS '81) and Karen (Vurraro) Beck ('83).
Abby and Kris
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