Theodora Zavin, 82; Copyright Lawyer, Executive at BMI

Theodora Zavin, 82, veteran copyright attorney and senior vice president at Broadcast Music Inc., died Monday in a New York City hospital after a brief illness.

Zavin had worked as a lawyer for the music copyright company from 1952 until retiring in 2001. She also was founding president of its BMI Foundation Inc., which assists music students.

Among the composers whose music Zavin worked to protect were John Williams, John Lennon and Alan Menken. As a vice president for performing rights, she personally signed contracts with such artists as Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel and Neil Sedaka.

Zavin co-wrote the book “Your Marriage and the Law.” She also co-wrote “The Working Wives Cookbook” and alone compiled “The Everybody Bring a Dish Cookbook.”

Zavin served as president of the Copyright Society of the U.S. and represented U.S. interests on the legal and legislative committee of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers.