Newark, NJ – Professor Emeritus Allan Axelrod, a member of the faculty at Rutgers School of Law–Newark since 1960, has died in his sleep at his home in Hoboken. He was 85 years old. In announcing his death, Dean Stuart L. Deutsch said: “Allan was a marvelous teacher and colleague. He will be missed by all of us who had the opportunity to learn from his brilliance and experience his sharp wit.”
A legendary and influential law professor, Professor Axelrod received his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1943 and his LL.B. from Yale in 1948. He began his teaching career in 1948 at the University of Nebraska and taught there for 12 years. He was a visiting professor at Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, Harvard, UC-Berkeley, Georgetown, and UC-Hastings law schools. Although he became an emeritus professor in 1988, he continued teaching until the fall of 2007. In 1978, the Rutgers University Board of Governors named him the William J. Brennan Professor of Law, the law school’s first named professorship. For most of his career, Professor Axelrod taught courses in bankruptcy and commercial law.
For the past 20 years, he co-taught Property with University Professor Peter Simmons. Professor Axelrod was the author of several articles and co-author (with Curtis Berger and Quintin Johnstone) of the casebook Land Transfer and Finance: Cases and Materials (1st and 2nd editions). Outside the law, he had wide-ranging interests and talents and was a fascinating and devoted friend to many.
The law school will hold a memorial tribute to Professor Axelrod on Sunday, September 21, at 1 pm. The Honorable Louis Pollak, U.S. District Court Judge, former dean of the Yale and University of Pennsylvania law schools, and Yale Law School classmate of Professor Axelrod, will deliver the eulogy. Other speakers will share their special recollections.
A legendary and influential law professor, Professor Axelrod received his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1943 and his LL.B. from Yale in 1948. He began his teaching career in 1948 at the University of Nebraska and taught there for 12 years. He was a visiting professor at Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, Harvard, UC-Berkeley, Georgetown, and UC-Hastings law schools. Although he became an emeritus professor in 1988, he continued teaching until the fall of 2007. In 1978, the Rutgers University Board of Governors named him the William J. Brennan Professor of Law, the law school’s first named professorship. For most of his career, Professor Axelrod taught courses in bankruptcy and commercial law.
For the past 20 years, he co-taught Property with University Professor Peter Simmons. Professor Axelrod was the author of several articles and co-author (with Curtis Berger and Quintin Johnstone) of the casebook Land Transfer and Finance: Cases and Materials (1st and 2nd editions). Outside the law, he had wide-ranging interests and talents and was a fascinating and devoted friend to many.
The law school will hold a memorial tribute to Professor Axelrod on Sunday, September 21, at 1 pm. The Honorable Louis Pollak, U.S. District Court Judge, former dean of the Yale and University of Pennsylvania law schools, and Yale Law School classmate of Professor Axelrod, will deliver the eulogy. Other speakers will share their special recollections.
Media Contact: Janet Donohue
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E-mail: jdonohue@andromeda.rutgers.edu