Russell Weintraub

Russell J. Weintraub Russell J. Weintraub, 82, died at home on December 13, 2012, surrounded by his loving family, including Zelda, his wife of 60 years, his children: daughter Sharon, sons David and Steven, and daughters-in-law, Rachel and Tina. Russell adored his four grandsons Elon, Daniel, Noam, and Aaron. He will rest next to his granddaughter Shoshana, who died in 2006. Russell's greatest wish was to be remembered for his great love for his family. Born on December 20, 1929, Russell earned his B.A. at NYU in 1950 and his J.D. at Harvard in 1953. He enjoyed a long successful career as a professor of conflicts of laws, contracts, international and business law. After serving in the army during the Korean War, he became a teaching fellow at Harvard Law School. In 1957, he moved to Iowa Law School as full professor and in 1965 began teaching at The University of Texas Law School, holding successively the Connelly and Powel Chairs. Russell also held teaching positions at other universities in the U.S. and abroad. He authored eight major textbooks through multiple editions and over 120 scholarly articles and reviews. His work on the conflicts of laws changed the understanding of that field. Russell consulted with many legislative entities, including the Parliament of the European Union, the U.S State Department, and the American Law Institute Committees. He received many professional honors, including Hague Lecturer on Private International Law and Hague Academy of International Law , Ronald Graveson Memorial Lecturer, and The University of Texas Dougherty Chair for Faculty Excellence. Russell was an elected life member of American Law Institute. Despite these many honors, Russell found the most joy and satisfaction as a teacher and was proudest of his many teaching excellence awards. His students and colleagues remember him as a modest man, who taught with wit and humor The family would like to thank Doris Dixon for caring for Russell in the last years and Hospice Austin for their support in the last days. Graveside Services will be held at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas on Sunday, the 16th of December, 2012, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon with Rabbi Neil Blumofe officiating. Memorial gifts may be made toward the establishment of the Zelda K. and Russell J. Weintraub Chair in Conflict of Laws and International Law through the UT Law School Foundation, 727 East Dean Keeton St., Austin, TX 78705.