BRUCE J. TERRIS (Age 83)
Of Washington DC died on February 3, 2017. Mr. Terris was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 3, 1933. He was the son of Charles Z. Terris, M.D. and Ruth Singer Terris. Mr. Terris graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1954 and magna cum laude in 1957 from Harvard Law School. In 1958, he joined the Justice Department, working in the Solicitor General's Office, where he argued 16 cases before the Supreme Court. After leaving the Solicitor General's Office, Mr. Terris was co-chairman of the Conference on Law and Poverty, which resulted in the formation of the Legal Services Corporation, which provides legal services to the poor throughout the country. In 1968, he co-founded the Center for Law and Social Policy, one of the first public-interest law firms in the country. In 1971, Mr Terris formed The Law Offices of Bruce J. Terris, later to become Terris Pravlik & Millian (TPM). From his bed, he was still practicing law at TPM until a few days before his death. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, David Terris, his sister, Ann Rooke-ley and his first wife, Shirley Duval Terris. Mr Terris is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sally Gillespie; his children, Sally Phillips of Washington DC, Elizabeth Terris of San Diego, CA, Jessica Kehimkar of Snohomish, WA and Robert Terris of Berkeley, CA; and 10 grandchildren, Benjamin, Deborah, Sara, Lee, Gabriel, Aidin, Olivia, Dylan, Sam and Kiara. Services will be held at Judean Memorial Gardens, Olney MD at 1 p.m., Sunday, February 5, 2017.

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Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 5, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for BRUCE TERRIS

6 Entries

Sherille Ismail

March 20, 2017

I am really saddened to hear of Bruce's passing. He was a tremendously inspiring role model who saw the law as a means of fighting for the least powerful in our society. When I worked in his firm, he could appear a bit gruff at times, but he was kind and generous and much more often had a twinkle in his eye. His brilliance, legal skills and perseverance were legendary. He leaves a lasting legacy. He will be deeply missed. My deepest condolences to Sally and family.

Patricia L. Sims

February 6, 2017

We had the privilege of Bruce Terris' representation for a full decade, enjoying his acute intelligence and tenacity. Condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.

Jeffrey Barnett

February 5, 2017

I am honored to have worked for Bruce in the 1980s and 1990s as a secretary in his law firm. I learned so much from him and admired him greatly.

Charlie Halpern

February 4, 2017

To Robert and Sally, family, and friends,

I was deeply distressed to hear that Bruce died. I share your grief and sense of loss with the passing of this most remarkable person.

His death brings back memories of 1969 when he and I made a commitment to each other to launch a new public interest law firm, if we were able to get the resources and get some other people to join us. It could never have happened without Bruce without his brilliance, his networks, and the admiration of the people who had worked with him in the solicitor general's office and the DC Democratic Party. The nascent, inchoate Center for Law and Social Policy would not have happened without his leading role. Arthur Goldberg agreed to chair the Board of Trustees of an organization that didn't yet exist because it sounded like a good idea and, more importantly, because Bruce asked him to do it. Bruce had argued before him many times in the Supreme Court, and Justice Goldberg had confidence in his judgment, his integrity, and his legal skill.

He was only a few years older than I was, but much deeper and more experienced in his legal understanding. He was a wonderful partner in our innovative undertaking, and he remained a dear friend for many years thereafter. Long after we had both left CLASP, he was a leader of the environmental law movement, serving in a role like the solicitor general to the lawyers in the movement. I admired him as a person of exceptional courage and spiritual depth. I loved him as a colleague and friend. I will miss him greatly.

Yours,
Charlie Halpern

February 4, 2017

May God's loving kindness and comfort help you and your family through this very sad time Psalms 29:11

Crystal Combs

February 4, 2017

Attorney Terris,
Thank you for being a fighter, a legal earthly-warring angel for me and so, so many others. I am so blessed to have had you and your wisdom in my life. May your light forever shine in all of the people's lives for whom you have touched.

To the Family,
I can only imagine how you feel. I am truly sorry for your loss. Attorney Terris was a great man who left a great legacy. God bless you for allowing and supporting him to do the things that he did for this world. I pray that God grants you all the extra added peace, love, forgiveness, unity and strength to get through this challenging time. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!

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