ELLIOT GLICKSMAN, WMU-COOLEY PROFESSOR
appreciated. I will very much remember Elliot Glicksman as my dear friend.”
PROFESSOR ELLIOT B. GLICKSMAN
Remembered and Treasured (JANUARY 25, 1942 — JULY 25, 2016)
BY TERRY CARELLA
We will remember Elliot Glicksman for much more than his intellect and as a distinguished professor at WMU-Cooley Law School. We will remember and treasure him as a good man. Rabbi Amy Bigman of East Lansing elaborated on the gift of a good name during a moving memorial service in Ann Arbor for the late Elliot B. Glicksman, WMU-Cooley Distinguished Professor Emeritus. “In the Book of Ecclesiastes,” started Rabbi Bigman, “our rabbis taught that there are three crowns: The crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty. But they emphasize that the crown of a good name exalts them all. The Elliot I knew, the Elliot all of you knew, had that crown of a good name.” Rabbi Bigman went on to say that, “a good name is to be treasured above precious oil. Wealth, health, and even
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life pass away, but a good name lives forever. It is this view that the Talmud teaches. “Monuments need not be erected for the righteous. Their deeds are their memorials. They will be remembered and revered for the kindness they have shown, and for the love they have given. “They are shining examples of what it means to be a mensch.” Friend and colleague Distinguished Professor Emeritus Charles Palmer captured the essence of why Elliot will be treasured always by our WMU-Cooley community. “For Elliot, it was his knowledge of evidence law that he was most
proud,” stated Palmer. “So, let me brag a little bit about my friend Elliot. After six years of practicing law, he was one of the original professors to join Cooley Law School. Over the decades, Elliot went on to make well over 60 presentations to groups across the nation. He talked to the Georgia judges association. He talked to the Nebraska judges. He talked extensively to the national Judicial College in Nevada. He talked to the Texas judges association, the California administrative judges association, Michigan new judges, the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, and the Idaho Judiciary. And that’s to name just a few!”
answering calls from graduates who needed advice on cases they were working on. Just the other day I heard Distinguished Professor Emeritus Charles from a Cooley graduate, Mark Garrison, Senger also shared his admiration for who was a Wyoming public defender and Elliot with the Cooley community upon wanted to share his Elliot story. hearing of his passing. “Our paths first crossed at University of Detroit Law “He said early on as a public defender before I was drafted into the Army,” said he was faced with several difficult Senger. “In his private practice of law, evidentiary cases and he immediately he was dedicated to the highest ethical thought of his ‘brilliant law school standards. As a law professor, he strove professor at Cooley as the only person to support deep commitment to academic he would contact for advice.’ He said it responsibilities.” was that contact that sparked his idea to have Elliot speak to the Wyoming Public Distinguished Professor Emeritus Keith Defenders Association. Hey said that, “Elliot was one of the first Cooley faculty members I met when I “Even a judge who was a Cooley graduate came to Lansing. He was a dear friend contacted Elliot during an evidentiary and colleague – always the gentleman. hearing to confirm the law before he gave He will be missed.” his ruling! Professor Kimberly O’Leary shared “But he did it with a smile. He really that “Elliot was an outstanding mind, enjoyed doing it. That was how much he a careful thinker, a person devoted to loved Cooley.” Cooley and to faculty development, and a delightful person.” Thea Glicksman, Elliot’s loving wife of more than four decades, shared how much Elliot loved Cooley and the friends he made at the law school and across the nation.
“Elliot’s great legal knowledge and his willingness to share this knowledge far and wide was a tribute to the kind of person he was,” said Thea. “His expertise not only taught the next generation of lawyers, it Professor Palmer added that Elliot had also helped build the good name and national 17 publications to his credit, including reputation of Cooley Law School. writing the Review of Evidence Law in the “I remember how much time he spent State of Michigan. working on his presentations and “But most of all, what I want to say — on behalf of me and most of you — is that Elliot was my friend,” continued Palmer. “Regardless of professor, distinguished professor, whatever — I will remember him as my friend. No one I know had the unique quality to greet me with, ‘Charlie!’ And smile with that gleam in his eye, and DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR EMERITUS CHARLES SENGER that hard handshake - which I always
“And as a person, a colleague, and a friend, his loss cannot be put into words. He will live always in our memories, and that truly is his final gift.”
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