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Edward Potts Obituary
Family-Placed Death Notice
POTTS, Edward Edward A. Potts (age 86) born September 20, 1924 in Highland Park, Michigan, died on Friday, October 8, 2010 in Peachtree City, Georgia. He earned a BA from the University of Michigan '49 and a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University National Law Center '52. He lived in the Washington, D.C. area for more than 40 years. In 1988, he retired as Associate Dean and Full Professor of the GWU National Law Center after 36 years of service and moved to Peachtree City, Georgia. He was a lifelong Republican who was actively involved in national and local politics. He ran for a Congressional seat in 1964, was a Delegate to several national conventions, a member of the Standing Committee on Civil Legal Aid of the Judicial Conference, served on a special advisory committee on Admissions of the D.C. Court of Appeals, the Chairman of the Reviewing Authority (Civil Rights) of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, a member of the Board of Directors of the Food and Drug Law Institute. He was a member of the D.C. Bar Association, a member of the Navy League, a Mason for 55 years and a member of the Peachtree City Kiwanis Club. He was a WWII veteran serving in the U.S. Navy and proudly continued to serve his country through the Naval Reserves where he retired as a Captain. He was an active member of St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church. One of his greatest joys in retirement was being the beloved "Mr. Ed" to the children at Burch and Huddleston Elementary Schools where he volunteered his time working with the reading program. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lucille; 4 daughters, Lisa Selby (Ron) of Canton, MA; Linda Beaubien of Peachtree City, GA; Laurie Albert (Duke) of Wilmington, NC; and Lyla Parry of Peachtree City, GA; 12 grandchildren Scott and Mark Selby, Skip and Charlie Beaubien, Holly McCullough Phillips (Larry), Alex and Jill McCullough, Michael, Grant, Chris, David and Rusty Parry, nieces, nephews, and many friends. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 12 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church followed by a reception in the parish hall to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his memory to St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church 316 N. Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree City, GA 30269.
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Memories and Condolences
for Edward Potts
6 Entries
November 23, 2010
Lyla: I am sorry to learn of your loss. Please give my sympathy to your mother.
From Mary Anne Sears and Leona Owens
Scott and Jeanne Gilkey
October 19, 2010
Dear Potts Family,
Only having known Ed for the past year, the impact of that friendship cannot be adequately described. Ed's total committment to helping others, his intelligence, integrity and sense of humor have made all of us better persons.
Oh, to have had the chance to have been a pupil of Ed!
Scott and Jeanne Gilkey
Kathy (O'Brien) Terwilliger
October 12, 2010
Dear Lucille and family. I am sorry that Artie and I could not be there today for the services. I heard they were beautiful and that Father Elliot really captured the Ed we all knew and loved. I will miss his smile, the hugs he always greeted me with, and his big laugh. He always got a laugh and/or giggle out of me. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Kathy and Artie
David Kaminsky
October 11, 2010
Dear Potts Family,
I was a night student at GW law school from 1979 to 1983 and had two interactions with Dean Potts, neither of which was happy for me at the times they occurred but both of which speak to his professionalism.
In the first, I was a student in his domestic relations class. In the first class of the semester he had each student complete an index card with name, business telephone, etc., so he had a way to contact us(we were night students) in the event of a class cancellation. He used the deck of cards to call on us in class.
Until you got called on you knew that you had to be ready with the night's cases. And once you'd been called on you figured you were safe to be unprepared for class for a while.
After a number of weeks of class my card came up and I was Dean Potts' focus for the class. OK. I thought I was done for a while.
And then he shuffled the deck. LOL.
In the second, in August 1982 as the fall semester of my fourth year began, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She died two months later.
As you surely understand, my attention to my full time job and school were secondary to my care of my mother during that period. I missed a lot of classes while my mother was sick and was devestated after her death.
I was taking a particularly difficult course that semester - corporate tax - and asked Dean Potts if I could delay taking the exam until the following semester. He said "no," that such permission could not be granted in advance. And he also said that if I claimed to be too ill to take the exam on the day it was given (the only acceptable reason for missing an exam) he would know that such a claim would be a ruse.
I was very unhappy at the time with Dean Potts' response. I took the exam on the scheduled date and the course was one for which I received one of my highest law school grades.
As much as I was unhappy with Dean Potts actions at the times of these two stories, I know now that he did the right thing in both instances.
I am about to retire from a successful government career and maintain a part-time private practice.
Dean Potts taught me, when I was a 30-something night student pup at the GW law school, what it takes to be a reliable, responsible professional. I'll never forget him for that.
You have my condolences on the loss of a very good man,
David Kaminsky
October 11, 2010
Dear Potts Family,
I am currently living in Boston but my time with your Dad will always be cherished. I will most remember Ed for sticking up for our parish during times of tribulation. He was a man's man. I am so sorry for your loss but we are all better for knowing Ed Potts.
Scott McDonald
Russ Parry
October 11, 2010
To a wonderful man who I loved like my own father. Ed was a man of absolute integrity who leaves behind a wonderful legacy. I will miss him dearly
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