Santa Clara University

Class Action

In Memoriam

Herman Levy 

Herman Levy

Herman Levy taught at the School of Law at SCU for 33 years, after working as an appellate and field attorney for the National Labor Relations Board from 1958 to 1971. He died on April 5, the day before his 75th birthday.

Levy earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a law degree from Harvard University. He was awarded a diploma in comparative labor law from Oxford University in 1968.

Levy was an experienced labor arbitrator, and he specialized in contracts, labor law, arbitration, and sports law. In 1975, he helped draft the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act. He also served as a labor consultant to the Department of Labor in 1986-87, and the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations in Washington, D.C., in 1979-80.

Levy was a passionate advocate of the interests and concerns of his students, and a lively and consistent presence not only in the classroom but also in many extracurricular settings. Drawing from the labor-management disputes to which he devoted so much of his professional energy, he was always on the alert for the possibility that the interests and concerns of his students and     co-workers were not being adequately respected and protected. As one of his former students observed in 2003: “He’s always been this champion of the underdog, taking on issues that have no impact on his life at all—whether they are for students in the law school or for inadequate parking for people with handicapped privileges.” Dean Donald J. Polden added, “Herman was widely admired here and held in great affection by his colleagues and students, past and present.”

In 1977, Levy was named Outstanding Professor of the Year by the law school class of ’77. In 2000, he was appointed to the San Jose Human Rights Commission.

Always popular with students, Levy will be remembered as a tireless   advocate for student rights and as the master of ceremonies for commencement exercises for many years. Persons wishing to make contributions in his memory are requested to designate them for the Herman M. Levy Endowed Scholarship and to send them to the Office of the Dean, School of Law, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, California 95053.

Edward John Niland, Jr.

Edward John Niland Jr. was a professor of law at Santa Clara University School of Law from 1947-52. He died in January.

After his tenure as a professor at SCU, he was a partner in the San Jose personal injury law firm Boccardo, Blum, Lull, Niland, Teerlink & Bell (1952-89). He practiced law for seven decades, specializing in appellate work and winning over 100 appeals nationwide, including 20 California Supreme Court rulings and a landmark award published in the Guinness Book of Records.

 

49	William Foley, Sept. 20, 2003. A native of San Jose, he joined the U.S. Navy and attended Penn State University and the U.S. Naval Academy. After serving in World War II, he returned to SCU to earn a law degree. He joined his father and older brother, James, at their law office in San Jose, Foley & Foley. In later years, his son, Douglas, joined them. He served on the San Jose City Council in the 1950s and practiced law until retiring in 2001. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shirley; son Douglas; daughters Jane and Susan; and eight grandchildren.
58	Elmer Ray Jennings, July 11, 2003. A native of St. Joseph, Mo., he began practicing law in Corning, Colo., within a year of earning his law degree from SCU. He was a Tehama County deputy district attorney for 13 years before working as a public defender. He was appointed a justice court judge in 1985 and ran unopposed for the seat in 1986 and 1988. He retired in December 2000. His love of his community was reflected through his service. He was a member of the Corning City Council from 1962-70 and was mayor from 1966-1968. He was also a member of the Corning Rotary, Boosters, Jaycees, and Elks Lodge. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Dee; sons Ryan, Larry, Steve, Greg, and Kirk; daughter Bree; brothers Jim and John; and four grandchildren.
69	John Joseph Dee, Dec. 19, 2003. A founding partner of the law firm Sullivan, Workman and Dee, he was a trial lawyer specializing in eminent domain, land use, and real estate litigation. In his 32 years of practice, he litigated several hundred eminent domain trials representing a range of clients from municipalities and commercial enterprises to private citizens. He was a member of the American Bar Association and a member and former chair of the Los Angeles Bar Committee on Condemnation and Land Valuation Litigation. He was appointed by the State Bar to serve as a delegate to the Conference of Delegates. He is the co-author of the handbook California Condemnation Practice for the Continuing Education of the Bar. A longtime resident of Pasadena, he was involved in civic and philanthropic groups, and was invested into the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1982 in honor of his service. He is survived by his wife of 38 years whom he met at SCU, Judie (Francoeur) B.A. ’64; children Sean, Kevin B.A. ’90, Kelly, and Mary Frances; siblings Alice Connolly, Veronica Chambers, Marguerite McDermott, and Liam Dee; and many nieces and nephews.
70	Averill Q. Mix, November 2003. He was born in Stamford, Conn. and attended Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, Yale, Stanford and Santa Clara University School of Law. During World War II, he served as a bomber pilot in the European Theater. He later settled in the Santa Clara Valley where he became very involved with the community, volunteering for several community organizations, for which he held several board positions with over the years. Mix also held a private law practice in San Jose, specializing in estate planning and real estate law. Ann Marie, his wife of 52 years, and sons Greg and Alan and their families survive him.
72	James Wallace Hill III, May 19, 2003. A graduate of Duke University, he was an avid reader and loved to travel. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Peggy.
73	Kenneth Harris Reiserer, July 12. Born in Rochester N.Y., he earned his bachelor of science degree from Oregon State University in 1967. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Officers Training Program, and served with distinction in Viet Nam, earning the Navy’s Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and the Bronze Star for heroism. He graduated cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law. He later earned an M.S. in tax law from Boston University and practiced law in California and Washington. He is survived by his wife, Anne; his parents, Ruth and Russell Reiserer; his daughters; Jennifer Reiserer and Lara Ewoniuk, his stepson, Christian Graham; and his sisters, Kristine Duncan and Suzanne Banister.
74	Robert M. McGarey, Feb. 24, 2003. A native of Frankfurt, Ky., he was an attorney, specializing in business law with the Sacramento firm Booth and Finch. He was active in the Lions Club. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Janice.
75	Charles L. Reed, Feb. 17. He was an attorney in Fresno. He is survived by his wife, Trudi.
76	Marian C. Chapman, Jan. 2. A family law attorney and equal rights advocate, she handled the first lesbian stepparent adoption case in California. She was the founder of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, and was founding chair of the advisory board for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. She served as an officer of Women Lawyers of Alameda County and Women Lawyers of California, and was a member of the ACLU. She is survived by her partner of 25 years, Sandra Springs, father Daniel Chapman, and siblings Willa and Robert.