Victor Rosenblum, a Northwestern law professor, died March 13 at Evanston Hospital due to heart failure. He was 80.
Colleagues said Rosenblum was popular with both students and faculty.
NU Law Professor John Heinz said Rosenblum was dedicated to his students.
“In my 40 years here, I have never seen anyone who had the devotion to his students that Vic had,” Heinz said. “He truly lived to teach.”
Rosenblum was named the Outstanding Professor of a Small Class for academic year 2004. The class of 2004 dedicated a portrait of Rosenblum as its class gift. The portrait hangs in Strawn Hall at the NU School of Law.
“He had a generosity of spirit,” he said. “He was a very sympathetic and understanding man.”
Rosenblum will also be remembered for his role in the anti-abortion movement. He presented Williams v. Zbaraz before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1980. The case upheld Congress’ refusal to give tax money for abortions.
Robert Bennett, a law professor and former dean of the law school, argued the opposing side.
“He was a formidable opponent,” Bennett said. “He was a political liberal who felt strongly about the right to life. He lived what he believed – he had eight children.”
Bennett and Rosenblum, both professors at the law school at the time, rehearsed their arguments in front of students.
Bennett said Rosenblum was open-minded about opposing viewpoints.
“He had strong views but did not let them get in the way of personal friendships,” he said.
Rosenblum also served as the chairman of Americans United for Life from 1989 to 1995.
Bennett and Heinz also said Rosenblum helped them meet their wives.
“He was a matchmaker,” Bennett said. “He has made the match that has dominated my life; he was a busybody.”
Rosenblum was the Nathaniel L. Nathanson Professor at NU from 1988 to 2002, when he became emeritus.
Rosenblum joined the political science department at NU as an associate professor from 1958 to 1963 and professor of law and political science from 1963 to 1968. He returned to NU in 1970 after serving as the president of Reed College in Portland, Ore., from 1968 to 1970. He was the director of NU’s law school’s graduate studies program from 1979 to 1992.
He finished teaching an undergraduate seminar in his home the Monday before his death.
Rosenblum served as the U.S. House of Representatives associate counsel on the Committee on Government Operations from 1957 to 1958.
Rosenblum held positions on legal associations such as the American Bar Association. He also served a year-long term as president of the Association of American Law Schools.
Memorial services were held March 16 at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, 1224 Dempster St., Evanston. The family asked for contributions to be made in Rosenblum’s memory to Shore Services for Developmental Disabilities, 4232 Dempster St., Skokie.
Rosenblum is survived by his wife, Louise, eight children and 17 grandchildren.
Reach Ketul Patel at [email protected].
