Remembering Justice David T. Prosser, Jr.

David T. Prosser, Jr., a prominent figure in Wisconsin for the last forty-five years, held many significant positions during his distinguished career of public service: Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, Commissioner of the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission, and Outagamie County District Attorney, among others. But after he passed away this month at the age of 81, those who gathered to celebrate his life remembered him not only as a hard worker and skilled jurist but also—and perhaps more importantly—as a trusted mentor, loyal friend, and devoted family member.

In my personal experience, Justice Prosser certainly deserved those accolades. I served as his law clerk during the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 2004-2005 term. That year we worked elbow to elbow, and I observed firsthand his skill as a writer, his work ethic, and his wry wit. Upon arriving at the state capitol in early August 2004, fresh out of Marquette Law School, I was as nervous as could be. Justice Prosser immediately put me at ease, and although I made many mistakes, he never lost patience with me. That year on the Court was perhaps the greatest experience of my professional career and I often reflect on those times. I certainly would not be where I am today without him.

As with many of those whose lives he touched, Justice Prosser always had my best interests in mind. He kept in touch with me and followed my career even long after I worked for him. A few years after my clerkship had ended, I needed a letter of recommendation in a short time frame during a busy period at the court. He agreed to write on my behalf. After apologizing for the quick turnaround, I asked when he might be able to get it in the mail—to which he answered, “we’ll see.” The next evening, there was a knock at my door. There on my doorstep was Justice Prosser, with the letter in hand. He had not only written it in less than a day, but also driven two hours each way to ensure it arrived on time. I invited him in, but he declined, saying, “I’m sure you have better things to do than have dinner with me.” His humility was one of his defining features. My experience was not unique. Those gathered at his funeral told many stories of a similar nature, explaining how Justice Prosser dropped everything to help a friend or family member in need.

Justice Prosser was a great friend of Marquette Law School, often appearing at events, lectures, dinners, and the like. Many of his clerks were Marquette lawyers, and they went on to successful careers as judges and lawyers in a variety of practice settings. He was featured in the Summer 2017 edition of Marquette Lawyer magazine, highlighting how he enjoyed hiring law clerks from Marquette and how much they helped him.

The previous year, in an interview with the Wisconsin State Bar on the occasion of his retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2016, Justice Prosser said he wanted to be remembered as an important decision-maker, an independent thinker, and a storyteller. He was certainly all those things, but also much more to those of us who had the good fortune to know him. As we continue our journeys without him, we honor the person he was and the life he led. Rest in peace, Justice Prosser. You will be missed.

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Looking Back, Giving Thanks

Sensenbrenner Hall Thanksgiving truly is an extraordinary celebration. Its invitation to pause and take inventory of the people whom and events in our life that we are grateful for quietly renews one’s spirit.

This year stood out as I looked back and gave thanks because my reflection is colored by my impending retirement after more than 29 years at Marquette University. I continue to be filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the people I’ve met during nearly three decades of assisting benefactors—men and women who stepped forward to make a difference in the lives of others.

Among the countless memories that come to mind, I want to offer one recent experience as illustrative of the grace that is an integral part of the fabric of philanthropy. Earlier this fall we received a generous six-figure gift from Adrian P. Schoone, Class of 1959. Adrian was born and raised in rural Lincoln County, Wisconsin. Rising from humble roots, he was the first in his family to attend college let alone pursue professional training, and yet he excelled as a student, being selected editor-in-chief of the Marquette Law Review and finishing first in his class.

The purpose of his gift is to fund an endowed scholarship that each year will support part of the tuition of the editor-in-chief of the Marquette Law Review. The award will be a fitting capstone for a third-year law student following in the footsteps of this distinguished alumnus who forged a career as a noted trial lawyer but later set his personal interests on hold, dedicating a year to travel throughout Wisconsin in service as state bar president. The story of this one gift speaks to a higher, shared value that the Law School seeks to instill in each future Marquette lawyer entrusted to our care. It speaks to the restless pursuit of excellence—a seed that germinates while one is a student but first comes to fruition over the full course of time.

This gift in a sense encapsulates many of my own hopes and aspirations of the past twenty years since joining Dean Kearney to work in partnership with Associate Dean Wilczynski-Vogel to help advance the mission of the Law School. Having held other positions within University Advancement for a decade, I was recruited to team up with the dean and Christine and many others to assist in the comprehensive fundraising effort that resulted in the building of Ray and Kay Eckstein Hall—still regarded as the finest law school facility in the nation.

What I did not realize at the time I said yes, in 2005, was how profound this decision would soon become not only for me personally but for scores of others who are the true beneficiaries of three decades of collective labor. I am truly a better person for having had this privilege to serve. Memories abound—enjoying the best Reuben sandwich served up in Cassville, Wisconsin, with the late Ray and Kay Eckstein, musky fishing the Flambeau River with Marquette lawyers, or meeting the late Justice Antonin Scalia with Bob Greenheck. My career has taken me to places never imagined. For all these experiences and so much more, I am grateful.

Most of all, I am moved by what our benefactors do so willingly for our students. I will speak to them directly in closing: Your generosity speaks to a higher love—one predicated on your belief and hope in the next generation of Marquette lawyers and their ability to make this world a better place. I join you in your optimism for the future—a life lesson gleaned from looking back and giving thanks.

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Remembering President Lovell’s Leadership on Water Issues

Marquette President Michael R. Lovell

On September 19, 2014, Dr. Michael R. Lovell delivered his inaugural address upon taking office as Marquette University’s 24th president. That day Dr. Lovell announced that Marquette would expand its role in the water sector, encouraging Marquette faculty, staff, and students to develop water solutions “that will change the world.” This was not an isolated commitment; it extended Dr. Lovell’s history of strong support for water initiatives and continued during the decade he spent at Marquette’s helm.

With the news of his untimely passing last week, my purpose here is to reflect on the significant legacy Dr. Lovell leaves behind in the water sphere, as most recently embodied in Marquette’s evolution as a center for work aimed at helping to solve the world’s water problems.

Today, the growth in Marquette’s interdisciplinary water research team evidences the university’s unwavering commitment to the subject. The group includes faculty members from a variety of disciplines including biology, economics, education, engineering, law, and political science. Its members have expertise in water and wastewater treatment technologies, stormwater management, materials and sensors, sustainable and resilient communities, water law and policy, hydrology, and many other areas.

Dr. Lovell was always proud to mention the interdisciplinary projects the team was pursuing, often making it a point to note how many different academic units were involved from across campus under the guiding hand of Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp, Vice President for Research and Innovation. Most recently, the water group secured Marquette’s largest ever federal award for water research, a large-scale interdisciplinary research partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to promote healthier environments for both military personnel and civilians. 

Of course, these research efforts are only one aspect of Marquette’s commitment to water innovation. The university also has become a leader in water education, sustainability, and community engagement and partnerships. It is training future generations of water leaders in a variety of academic disciplines.

Some of this work had been ongoing prior to Dr. Lovell’s arrival at Marquette, such as the formation of the Water Quality Center in the College of Engineering and the Law School’s active engagement in the Milwaukee regional water initiative since its creation in the early 2000s. But with Dr. Lovell’s call—and challenge—to all units of the university for greater engagement with matters involving water, these efforts flourished. For example, the Law School announced an expanded Water Law and Policy Initiative that now offers students a wider suite of courses and fieldwork opportunities, regularly hosts public events and conferences, and pursues independent and funded research opportunities.

A discussion of Dr. Lovell’s water legacy would be incomplete without mentioning his work prior to his arrival at Marquette. As chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was a driving force behind the establishment of The Water Council, a key Milwaukee-based organization dedicated to establishing the region as a global hub dedicated to solving critical water challenges. Also under Dr. Lovell’s leadership, UWM announced a plan to create the nation’s first School of Freshwater Sciences.

In closing, it seems appropriate to mention that President Lovell’s focus on water issues was likely rooted in his strong Catholic faith. He often was interested in discussing Pope Francis’s encyclical letter confirming that water is “a fundamental right” that is “indispensable to human life,” and calling for engagement in an “open and respectful dialogue” about water policies, laws, and technologies. Dr. Lovell also signed the St. Francis Pledge, committing Marquette to join many other academic institutions recognizing a duty to care for the environment and protect the poor and vulnerable, among other things. With Dr. Lovell’s passing, it is up to us to steadfastly carry on this important work.

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