BURNS WESTON

WESTON--Burns H.,

Bessie Dutton Murray, Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Iowa, died on October 28, 2015, a few days before his 82nd birthday. After surviving numerous challenges to his health, Weston was writing new books and developing human rights projects. His death was unexpected and sudden. After turning away a promising career as a pianist or conductor, Weston graduated from Yale Law School and began his legal career in 1961 with a distinguished New York law firm. Thereafter, he joined The University of Iowa College of Law, where he nurtured and inspired generations of law students and "put Iowa Law on the map" of international law and human rights. Weston authored over 28 books, wrote innumerable articles, and was on the editorial board of over 10 professional journals. In addition to taking part in numerous fact-finding human rights missions, he founded the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights (UIHCR) in 1999. Weston lectured, wrote and taught about pressing issues facing our planet: nuclear disarmament, apartheid, child labor, human rights and lately environmental survival. He co-authored (with David Bollier) a ground-breaking book "Green Governance: Ecological Survival, Human Rights, and the Law of the Commons" in 2012 and was, at the time of his death, in the final stages of completing the 4th edition of "Human Rights in the World Community: Issues and Action", with co-author, Anna Grear. Weston had a limitless capacity to enjoy so much about this world--and an equally tenacious drive to improve it. He embraced the world "with all five senses"--he was most passionate about classical music, but also loved art, travel and movies. He was happiest in the Adirondack Mountains. He was a devoted spouse, father, grandfather and brother. Weston is survived by his wife, Marta Cullberg Weston (Stockholm), his sister, Monique Weston (New York) and his two children, Timothy Bergmann Weston (Colorado) and Rebecca Burns Weston (Montana), four grandchildren, three Swedish stepchildren, and their five children. A memorial service in honor of Weston will be held by the Iowa College of Law, Iowa City on December 5, 2015 at 2pm.