In Memoriam: Marvin A. Chirelstein

Marvin A. Chirelstein, Professor Emeritus at Columbia Law School, died on February 16th.  He was 86.

I never met Professor Chirelstein, but his book (at left) was a revelation to me.  I read it while taking first year contracts.  My first year contracts course was rigorous and stimulating, but Chirelstein’s book gave me my first inkling that contracts law and lore could be entertaining and fun.  I brought that edition with me to work, where it sat in my office until it went down with the World Trade Center.  When I became a contracts prof, I started getting the new editions, and I was always happy to see how the book was updated.  It still sits on my shelf as a trusted reference book that I recommend to students, hoping to kindle in them the same enthusiasm for the subject that it kindled in me.

A notice is available on the Columbia Law School website and in the New York Times.