Wayne Westling, a law professor known for his ability to bridge the
gap between the classroom and the courtroom, died Friday of
cancer. He was 58.
Westling balanced his time between teaching at the law school
and being a member of the National Institute for Trial Practice. Law
School Dean Rennard Strickland said the school will be
hard-pressed to find another professor with Westling’s insights on
how students transfer their education into the legal world.
Strickland described Westling as a gracious, outgoing man who
had an ability to tackle legal problems in a well-rounded way.
Westling was also a member of the hiring committee when
Strickland was hired as dean, he said.
Strickland said Westling’s health deteriorated faster than he had
realized, although he knew Westling would not return to teach fall
term.
“Wayne was one of those magnificently optimistic and determined
people,” Strickland said. “The speed [of his deterioration] shocked
everyone.”
University President Dave Frohnmayer, who worked in the law
school with Westling before becoming president, also said
Westling had an ability to show students how to use practically
what they learned in the classroom.
“He was always conscious of the need to connect legal theory and
legal practice,” Frohnmayer said.
Strickland said the law school will begin to search for a new
professor during the fall and have candidates ready for selection
by the winter.
Westling authored a number of books and taught law in Australia,
New Zealand and England. He received his bachelor’s degree in
1965 from Occidental College in Los Angeles and his law degree
in 1968 from the New York University School of Law.
He was admitted to the California bar in 1969, the U.S. Supreme
Court bar in 1972 and the Oregon bar in 1981.
He had worked at the University’s law school since 1979.
Westling is survived by his wife, Letty Morgan, his father, a sister,
and two children, Erika and Todd.
Eliza Schmidkunz, the assistant director of communications at the
law school, said a public memorial service will be held sometime
soon. Strickland described the upcoming service as a “celebration
of life.” He added that it will take place at the law school and is
tentatively planned for Sept. 5, although he and other faculty will
meet to set a final date this week.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holt International
Children’s Services or the YMCA. For more information, contact
Westling’s secretary, Debbie Thurman, at 346-3821.
University law school professor dies at 58
Daily Emerald
August 21, 2001
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