Paul Cronin Weiler

1939 - 2021

1939 ~ 2021

Paul Cronin Weiler, 82, passed away at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 7, 2021, after a long illness. Born in Port Arthur, Ontario, he spent his earliest and formative years in the mining community of Geraldton and later in Thunder Bay. He followed in his father's footsteps, working summers as a student at what became Weiler Maloney Nelson, where he was mentored by the firm's lawyers. Like his father, Paul had a great respect for each person and treated everyone he met with kindness and understanding.

After excelling in B.A. and M.A. programs at St. Michael's College, University of Toronto ('61), he attended Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B. '64) and Harvard Law School (LL.M. '65).

Over the course of his career, Paul became a beloved law professor, first at Osgoode and then for many years at Harvard, where he was the MacKenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies and later the Henry J. Friendly Professor of Law and Faculty Co-Director of the Labor and Worklife Program.

While pursuing his education, Paul benefited from many teachers and mentors and in turn mentored many of his students and protégés. There are too many influencers to name here but their contributions and impact on his career were profound and much appreciated.

Paul was a leading expert in labour law. In the 1970s, he was Chair of the Labour Relations Board in British Columbia. In the 1990s, he was appointed the Chief Counsel for the U.S. Commission on the Future of Worker-Management Relations by President Clinton. Paul authored many publications on labour and employment law, as well as on medical malpractice, entertainment law, and sports law. He was also very interested in constitutional law and served as a legal advisor to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on the construction of the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The following link has a more in-depth summary of his scholarly work:

https://today.law.harvard.edu/in-memoriam-paul-c-weiler-ll-m-65-1939-2021-north-americas-foremost-labor-law-scholar-and-the-founder-of-sports-and-the-law/

Paul received honorary degrees from York University, the University of Victoria, Lakehead University, and the University of Toronto. In 2016, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Paul was especially interested in sports—not only as a legal expert, but also as a participant and spectator. He loved many teams, including the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He passed on his love of sports to his children and grandchildren. A long-time resident of Cambridge, Paul was passionate about its history and even wrote his own guide to the area. He was also a devout Catholic.

Paul is survived by his four children, Virginia (Paul Courtney), John (Lisa), Kathryn (Sarah Kennedy), and Charlie (Katie Hume), from his first wife, Barbara Forsyth, and his loving grandchildren, Sophie, John, Tobias, Leo, Magda, Poppy, and Benjamin. He is also survived by his wife, Florrie Darwin; his siblings Susan (the late Jim Guerard), Bob (Karen), and Joe (Jo-Anne); his mother-in-law, Natalie Darwin, and brothers- and sisters-in-law; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his mother, Marcella, his father, Bernie, and his brother John.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. If desired, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada.