UM Law Mourns Death of Prof. Richard Hausler for 52 Years, Prof
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
BARRISTER Alumni Newspaper Summer 2000 Volume LIII Number 1 UM Law Mourns Death of Prof. Richard Hausler For 52 years, Prof. Richard Hausler was a beloved, and sometimes intimidating, fixture at the University of Miami School of Law, inspiring legions of stu- dents to achieve the highest levels of excellence. His remarkable tenure and highly pro- ductive life came to an end Saturday, March 18, when he suddenly collapsed in the office of his wife, Jeannette Hausler, UM Law’s dean of students. Employing a classroom trial by fire known as “the Socratic Method,” pro- gressively questioning and probing students, Prof. Hausler taught genera- tions of students to appreciate the subtle beauty of promises and conditions em- bodied in the Uniform Commercial Code, contracts, commercial law, and conflict of laws. His former students fill the ranks of the nation’s distinguished jurists and corporate leaders. Prof. Hausler came to the University of Miami School of Law in 1948 to help establish a graduate curriculum in taxa- tion. Driven by an urge to bring an ethical and moral content to the law, he believed the fields of taxation and estate planning held the most promise for reform in the post-war world. The School’s graduate program in taxation is now considered to be one of the top six in the country. In 1996, in recognition of Prof. Hausler’s contributions, the School of Law named its first endowed chair in his honor. “The Doctor’s” teaching style is remembered as dramatic, demanding, involving, and very effective. University of Miami President Edward T. Foote II, speaking at the March 24 well as from the mind, with a love for He noted that “It is impossible to Hauslers were among the first people he funeral mass, described Professor law and for his students that would not think of Richard without thinking of met when he was introduced to Uni- Hausler as “a gifted, powerful, inspiring allow him to expect less than the best Jeannie (Dean of Students Jeannette versity of Miami leaders before teacher who taught from the heart as from them.” Hausler), his wife.” Foote said the (Continued on page 4) Colombian Senate Bestows Order of Congress Award On Prof. Keith Rosenn The Congress of Colombia has be- An internationally recognized author- stowed its Order of Congress award— ity on Latin American law, Rosenn is in the degree of “Caballero”—on the the author of numerous books, mono- University of Miami School of Law’s graphs, and law review articles and a Prof. Keith S. Rosenn in recognition of prolific lecturer at conferences through- “his accomplishments and professional out the Americas. He is especially conduct.” well-known for his books: Law and De- The Honorable Miguel Pinedo Vidal, velopment in Latin America, Law and president of the Senate of Colombia, Inflation, Foreign Investment in Brazil, A presented the award to Rosenn in a Panorama of Brazilian Law, and an an- ceremony at the School of Law Febru- notated translation of the Brazilian ary 11. constitution. His latest new book— [Editor’s Note: Immediately following Corruption and Political Reform in Brazil: The Significance of the Downfall of his visit to Miami, Pinedo Vidal traveled to Fernando Collor de Mello —which he co- Europe to join other delegates from Colombia’s government in meeting with a edited with Richard Downs of the University of Miami’s North-South group of senior members of the Revolution- The Honorable Miguel Pinedo Vidal, president of the Senate of Center, was published in 1999. ary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Colombia (at right), congratulates Prof. Keith Rosenn after presenting to attempt to establish a framework for a He frequently is called upon to pro- him with Colombia’s Order of Congress Award. Also shown are a plan to end Colombia’s long-running war, vide expert testimony and to serve as a delegate from the Colombian delegation and Associate Dean Richard which has claimed more than 35,000 lives consultant on Latin American law. Williamson. in the past decade.] (Continued on page 3) www.law.miami.edu. 1 B ARRISTER Alumni Newspaper Summer 2000 Volume LIII Number 1 Message from the Dean To the Editor: Much has been said and written about “the Doctor,” the University of Miami School of Law’s legend- Dear Friends, ary and classic academic treasure. All who knew him and know of his accomplishments will agree that It was 52 years ago that Prof. Rich- few of the many techniques he used there may be little that remains ard A. Hausler joined the University to capture and retain the undivided unsaid about this truly exceptional of Miami Law faculty. He arrived in attention of his students. Everyone and inspirational individual: lawyer, Miami with a law degree from the was always alert and prepared for Pro- scholar, legal educator, coach. University of Minnesota and an fessor Hausler’s class. Part of that which, up to now, has LL.M. in taxation from New York While he constantly employed the University. He could have joined a been unwritten is an expression of Socratic method of teaching, he con- heartfelt gratitude and friendship by law firm and received a much higher veyed a concern and commitment to those of us who have been fortunate salary, but instead, he chose to join the success of his students. For Pro- the faculty at our Law School and to to be a part of our noble teacher’s fessor Hausler, it was pure joy to hear eternal legacy. The time to pay pursue a career that would make him his students expressing their own homage is at hand. a legend in his own time. ideas and thinking on their own. He If the value of a man is measured According to Professor Hausler: always sought to do much more in the by the quality of his heart, the depth “When I came here, the people were classroom than simply convey legal of his soul, and the caliber of his dreamers. They did fabulous things knowledge. Hausler was with us to witness the conscience, then Professor Hausler because they dreamed great dreams, Professor Hausler loved the class- outpouring of gratitude for his many fulfilled all criteria. He lived his life the right dreams.” Our many alumni room and his students, and in turn, contributions to our School’s educa- with tenderness, integrity, dignity, who had “the Doctor” as a professor they cherished him. The 35 “Hausler- tional mission. I have also been profound benevolence, and as he will be forever grateful that he de- ween” skits put on by students, sati- proud to see the many recent con- loved to say, “all that jazz.” He en- cided to be one of the School’s early rizing Professor Hausler’s classes, are tributions that have been made in couraged his students not only to dreamers. a memorial to the pride his students his memory to help establish the Pro- do justice, but more importantly, to At 25 years of age, Richard Hausler felt in being in his classroom. Profes- fessor Hausler Endowed Scholarship. do right. The Doctor was a living was both an expert on taxation and sor Hausler was always the main The chair and scholarship are fitting testament that morality and law can an idealist who believed strongly in character in Equity Playhouse. Al- memorials to a man who was a giant and must coexist. His mission was the law as a means to achieve just and most every alumnus with whom I among legal educators. to transform legal novices into fu- ethical results. He not only held to speak has a Hausler story. Many of Of course, in a very real sense, “the ture esquires of character and that belief throughout his long, pro- them also describe how he kept in Doctor” is still with us, and he al- substance. ductive career, he instilled it, along touch with them after graduation. ways will be. His legacy of personal Principle guided his every word, with a wealth of legal knowledge, in He was always eager for news about and professional standards will be the legions of UM Law students who the careers of his former students, action, and decision. Every day, in with our School and our alumni for- his law school lectures and office took his classes from 1948 until his and he would write them notes of ever. Through his legend, he remains meetings, he reminded many a dis- death on March 18 this year. congratulations. the heart and soul of our School. We heartened student that no obstacle Professor Hausler was still the heart These same students gave back to will miss him dearly, but we will al- is insurmountable and no fear is and soul of our Law School at 76 years Professor Hausler and to the School ways cherish his memory. unconquerable, with God on your of age. For him the classroom was his by making it possible for us to estab- side and the power of love to see stage. He carefully prepared and cho- lish the Law School’s first endowed Sincerely, you through. As for the Doctor’s reographed every class. He created a chair in his name. As one who was a extraordinary sense of humor, it mystique by quickly memorizing each colleague of Professor Hausler for was, in his words, “Abbott and student’s name and details about their many years, it makes me proud that Costello all over again.” backgrounds. He would pace the aisles the School, our graduates, and the and sit down between students while South Florida legal community estab- Dennis O.