Harry H. MacLaughlin

MacLaughlin Harry H. MacLaughlin, Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, age 77, on May 3, 2005, of complications from pneumonia. Judge MacLaughlin was born on August 9, 1927 to Harry and Grace (Swank) MacLaughlin and grew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He served as a yeoman in the United States Navy from 1945-46 before moving to the Twin Cities to start his family and begin his distinguished career. Judge MacLaughlin earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota in 1949 and his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1956, where he served as an editor of the Minnesota Law Review. On June 25, 1958, he married Mary Jean Shaffer, a union which produced two sons, David and Douglas. Judge MacLaughlin engaged in the private practice of law with Walter F. Mondale from 1957-60 and with C. Blaine Harstad from 1960-72. From 1972-77, Judge MacLaughlin served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. In 1977, President Carter appointed Judge Mac- Laughlin to the federal bench, and on September 19, 1977, Vice President (and former law partner) Walter Mondale swore Judge MacLaughlin into office at a ceremony in the Roosevelt room of the White House in which his wife and sons participated. Judge MacLaughlin was a respected jurist and teacher throughout his career. He served as a law instructor at William Mitchell College of Law from 1958-63; was a lecturer at the University of Minnesota Law school from 1973-86; and frequently judged moot court competitions among law students. On May 13, 1995, the regents of the University of Minnesota presented the university's Outstanding Achievement Award, its highest award for alumni, to Judge MacLaughlin at the law school commencement exercises to honor the many achieve- ments of his career. But mainly, Judge Mac- Laughlin will be missed for who he was, and not for what he achieved. He was a loyal and unwavering family man with a great sense of humor who would have walked through fire for his wife and sons. He loved to travel with his wife and family and to spend time at the family lake cottage on Lake Miltona, near Alexandria. He is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife Mary of 47 years; son David and his partner, Michele Mandrich; son Douglas and his wife, Cathy and their children John, Rachel and Grace; sister-in-law Vera MacLaughlin of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota and nieces Anita Syvertsen and Sylvia DeKrey and their families in Fargo, North Dakota. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2 PM at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Mpls. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Salvation Army or to the Sesquicentennial Campaign of Plymouth Congregational Church.