Dr. Gary Charles Leedes

LEEDES, Dr. Gary Charles, a tenured professor of law (emeritus) at the University of Richmond for 25 years, died November 4, 2008 after a short illness. He was 74 years old. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Dr. Leedes obtained a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School; his LL.B. J.D. with honors from Temple University Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Journal; his LL.M. from Harvard Law School; and his SJD (Doctor of Scientific Jurisprudence) from Harvard Law School. He also clerked in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. At the University of Richmond, Dr. Leedes was the winner in 1998 of the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award. In addition to his years at Richmond, Dr. Leedes was Visiting Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Wyoming, Santa Clara University, Loyola of Los Angeles University, Queens College, Cambridge University and Emanuel College at Cambridge University. At these institutions, he taught Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and various interdisciplinary courses for undergraduates. Dr. Leedes was awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities at Columbia University (Legal History and Theory) and a Ford Foundation fellowship for research focusing on desegregation of public schools in Virginia. In 1986, his book entitled "The Meaning of the Constitution: An Interdisciplinary Study of Legal Theory" was published. He was also the author of more than 25 published articles, many of them dealing with religion and law and legal history. During his legal career, Dr. Leedes acted as attorney for Rutherford Institute, and for churches with free exercise of religion cases. He also acted as a consultant to the law firm of McGuire Woods in the VMI case involving gender discrimination. In addition, he had frequent consultations with governors of the Commonwealth, with United States attorneys, and the Virginia General Assembly as an expert witness, assisting in drafting legislation liberalizing the right of home schooling. Dr. Leedes gave occasional lectures dealing with the free exercise of religion amendments to the United States Constitution. In the last few years, Dr. Leedes was researching and writing books dealing with the doctrine of the Trinity, the New Testament books of Romans and Revelation, as well as important work relating to the way Jews and Christians read, interpret and apply scripture. Dr. Leedes is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carol Brooks Leedes; his son, John Bradford Leedes; daughter-in-law, Susan Leedes; and a brother, Dr. Richard Leedes of New Hope, Pa. Dr. Leedes also leaves many former students, colleagues and friends who will think of him often and greatly miss him. A memorial service will be held at Canon Chapel on the campus at the University of Richmond, led by Rabbi Jamie Cowen and Dr. Joseph P. Gouverneur at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Bon Secours Hospice.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.