Louis-Pollak-Obituary

Louis H. Pollak

Obituary

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Louis H. Pollak, a federal judge who helped work on the pivotal school-desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education, and later served as dean of two Ivy League law schools, has died. He was 89.

Pollak, a U.S. district judge, died Tuesday at his home in Philadelphia's West Mount Airy neighborhood, Michael Kunz, clerk of federal district court, said Thursday.

"He was brilliant in issues of jurisprudence. However, that was tempered with a humility that is not often seen in persons of his standing in the legal profession," Kunz said, noting that Pollak's legal career extended across more than six decades, including a 1948-1949 stint as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Wiley B. Rutledge.

From 1950 to 1955, Pollak and William T. Coleman worked with Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in writing briefs about school desegregation cases that culminated in the 1954 ruling that said state laws requiring separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional.

Marshall later became a Supreme Court justice himself while Coleman went on to become transportation secretary in President Gerald Ford's administration in the 1970s.

"Those were exhilarating, marvelous years," Pollak told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a 2010 interview. "In retrospect, it seems inevitable" that school segregation would be outlawed. "But we sure didn't know it at the time."

Pollak was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and remained in that position until his death.

Born in New York City on Dec. 7, 1922, Pollak graduated from Harvard University in 1943 and Yale Law School in 1948. He was dean at Yale before moving to the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he also was dean.

David Rudovsky, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, recalled Pollak both as a federal judge and law s chool dean.

"Aside from all that he accomplished, he did it while being fair and considerate and being a decent person," Rudovsky said Thursday. "Those are the hallmarks of what he did."

Pollak is survived by his wife, Katherine, and five daughters. Funeral plans have not yet been announced.

MATT MOORE, Associated Press


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Dear Mrs. Pollak--
Our deepest condolences to you and your family... What a valued and distinguished life you both have had. You may recall two things-- that Judge Pollak married me and my wife almost exactly 29 years ago; Joanne is next to me on the couch now, as we await our daughter's return from a rowing regatta; and you were instrumental-- as Penn's post-bacc director-- in my own 25 year career in cardiology. Our very best wishes to you and your family. John and Joanne Rudoff

It's rare to find true greatness. Judge Pollak was one of the greatest jurists—and people-- of our time.


I first met Lou Pollak when I was 7 years old and I stumbled into his back yard, where he was playing with his young daughter Susie. He spoke to me quietly and sincerely and patiently, ignoring my pronounced lisp and cutting through my shyness. He introduced me to his dog, his daughters, and his always witty wife, Kathy. He was the most generous and considerate of...

To Katherine, and Louis's entire family.Louis was beyond genius.Remembering a hot day in Atlanta with Abernathy Andy , ,MLKSr.Louis Reese , personal confident of MLKSr. And Twitty .What a eventful ride to the airport .
Profound Sincere Condolences .
Chuck Stone
Founding Member
Congressional Black Caucus
BOB STOKES 33*
THE MOTHER LODGE
LONDON U K

Dear Ms. Pollak and Family - I extend my condolences on your loss. Judge Pollak was Dean of Penn Law School when I graduated in 1976. I interviewed him for the Law School newsletter shortly after he became Dean. I had also met him at Yale while I was an undergraduate, during his term as Dean of the Yale Law School. I still remember that meeting. I was a member of Davenport College, where he was a fellow. One winter morning I was having breakfast with another student. The dining hall...

To Mrs. Pollak, Sally, Debbie, et al:

Please accept my condolences on the passing of your husband and father. I'm sure he is missed, not only by you, but by many whose lives he touched.

Having spent a little time in your household, I can't say as if I ever heard Judge Pollak speak more than twenty words. I remember him always with a modest smile.

On one or two occasions at dinner he ate quietly. And with his eyes sparkling he appeared to enjoy the colorful...

To the the family of Louis Pollak - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.

With deepest sympathy to the Pollak family during your time of grief...Psalm 46:1...God is for us a refuge and strength, A help that is readily to be found during difficult times...May God provide you with peace and comfort to endure the days ahead.

With affection and gratitude, from a former student, Yale Law School class of 1970:
May the Source of Peace send peace to all who mourn and comfort to all who are bereaved.