ALFRED HILL

HILL--Alfred.

The Columbia Law School community mourns the death of our colleague and friend, Professor Emeritus Alfred Hill, who passed away on December 5 at the age of 98. Al was a valued member of the Columbia community who made significant scholarly contributions in the areas of constitutional law, corporations, securities regulation, federal courts, torts, and conflict of laws. A graduate of both Brooklyn Law School and Harvard Law School, Al began his teaching career in the early 1950s after nine years as an attorney with the SEC. He joined our faculty as a visiting professor in 1962. After receiving a standing ovation from students at the end of his first lecture, he was quickly offered a permanent position. Known for his sense of humor, fairness, and inquisitive nature, Al had a talent for shedding light on dry and complex legal concepts. His colleagues and students continuously marveled at his enthusiastic and compelling teaching style during his nearly 30 years at the Law School. As a scholar, his opinion was widely sought, and he could often be found in the company of other Columbia Law School intellectual giants, including Professors Hans Smit and Kenny Jones. Al was a generous mentor and teacher to generations of Columbia Law School students. In retirement, Al remained a voracious reader and history buff, and he enjoyed baking bread. Our hearts go out to his loving wife, Dorothy, to his daughter and son-in-law, Amelia Hill-Oliva and Cesar Oliva, and to his two grandsons, Michael Hill-Oliva and Kevin Hill-Oliva. The Columbia Law School family shares in this great loss. There will be a gathering of friends at Al's home on Saturday, December 19, from 2-4pm.