Law School Mourns Death of Emil Slizewski

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Feb. 15 at St. Mary of the Hills in Milton for Prof. Emeritus Emil Slizewski '41, JD '43, a much-admired stalwart of the Law School faculty, who died on Feb. 11. He was 83.

Emil Slizewski taught at the Boston College Law School for 50 years.
"Emil's death is inexpressibly sad for the entire Law School community," said BC Law Dean John H. Garvey. "He taught more of our students than any teacher in our history. Emil used to say that he came to Boston College in 1937 and never left. In a way, that will continue to be true. He played a unique role in forming this school into the place it is today. We will be forever grateful to him."

Affectionately called "The Slew" by his friends, students and many admirers, the Dorchester native was hired by the Law School as a librarian soon after earning his juris doctorate from the school. He joined the faculty in 1948 and taught for 50 years until his retirement.

Mr. Slizewski's courses in trusts, estates and estate planning stood out in the memory of many BC Law students, faculty and administrators.

"Multiple generations of Boston College Law School students have regarded 'The Slew's' Trusts and Estates course as a rite of passage," said Mr. Slizewski's colleague Prof. James Rogers. "Yet despite - or perhaps because of - his reputation for intellectual rigor, he was one of the school's best-loved teachers. All of us on the faculty can have no greater hope than that our students will feel some measure of the respect and affection that Emil's students had for him."

Mr. Slizewski is survived by his sister, Helen White of Milton.

The Law School plans to hold a memorial service in Mr. Slizewski's honor later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the Boston College Law School Fund.

-Law School Communications Manager Nathaniel Kenyon contributed to this story.

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