Lori A. Peterson Dando ’81
Lori A. Peterson Dando ’81 passed away on November 12 at age 70. Dando grew up in the Twin Cities and graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1972. She attended Bethel University and the University of Minnesota. She went on to the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1981. After law school, Dando worked as an assistant county attorney for Dakota County for 12 years. She joined the U.S. State Department, beginning her career in the diplomatic corps. After retiring to Duluth in 2019, she reconnected with her Minnesota roots and made up for lost time with family and friends while continuing her interests in travel and exploration.
The Honorable John W. Harrigan ’59
The Honorable John W. Harrigan ’59 passed away on November 15 at age 93. He was born in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1950. He graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1954, served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956, and then enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he graduated from in 1959. Harrigan spent the next 38 years in general practice, rising to managing partner of the Lowry-Hill firm, as well as serving as an administrative law judge and arbitratormediator for 10 years.
Robert J. Hennessey ’68
Robert J. Hennessey ’68 passed away on March 2 at age 82. He was born in St. Paul and graduated from Washington High School and the University of Minnesota — he was the first in his family to attend college. He then graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1968. As an attorney at Larkin Hoffman Daly and Lindgren, and later as a partner at Lindquist & Vennum, Hennessey was known for his thorough preparation for trial and dogged defense of clients, including those involved in high-profile cases. In Twin Cities legal circles, he was known for his warmth, kindness, and formidable abilities in the courtroom. Of Hennessey, former Minnesota Supreme Court Paul Anderson said, “He was one of those lawyers who is a credit to the profession. … It was lawyers like Bob who helped fulfill and make our civil society work.”
Joyce A. Hughes ’65
Joyce A. Hughes ’65 passed away on November 13 at age 85. Hughes was born in Gadsden, Ala., and attended Minneapolis Central High School, where she was the Class of 1957 valedictorian. She enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School, where she served on the Minnesota Law Review. She graduated cum laude in 1965 and earned membership in the Order of the Coif. In 1971, she became the first Black woman on the Law School faculty and the first to serve as a tenure-track law professor at any majority law school in the nation. Hughes was also the first woman and first African American to clerk for a Minnesota federal district court judge. After practicing law briefly in a small Minneapolis firm, she joined Northwestern Law, where she remained for more than 40 years. In 2015, the St. Paul Federal Courthouse honored her as one of Minnesota’s leading women lawyers and judges.
Gregory P. Joseph ’75
Gregory P. Joseph ’75 passed away on February 27 at age 75. Joseph was born and raised in Minneapolis and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. He then graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1975. In 1980, he joined the Fried Frank law firm in New York, where he was named partner in 1982 and later became chair of the litigation department. In 2001, he expanded his practice by forming his own litigation firm and served as president of the American College of Trial Lawyers; chair of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association; and, by appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit described him as “the leading authority on sanctions law.”
Elliot Kaplan ’61
Elliot Kaplan ’61 passed away on January 14 at age 89. He was an accomplished attorney and named partner at Robins Kaplan where he practiced law for more than six decades. He served as chairman of the firm for many years, and appeared before the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Kaplan remained devoted to the Law School throughout his life. He was a proud graduate of Minnesota Law and a member of the Lockhart Club. He led major capital campaigns, served in numerous alumni leadership roles, and chaired the University of Minnesota Foundation Board. In recognition of his decades of service, he was awarded the University of Minnesota Regents Award in 2018. With his wife, Eloise, Kaplan established a law school scholarship to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, believing strongly that the legal profession should reflect the diversity of the communities it serves and that access to justice must remain open to all.
The Honorable William A. Knox ’68
The Honorable William A. Knox ’68 passed away on December 16 at age 80. Knox was raised in Fargo, N.D., and was a 1968 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where both his father and grandfather attended. At the Law School, he was a member of the Minnesota Law Review and earned membership in the Order of the Coif. After graduation, he served as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. In that capacity, he traveled throughout the United States defending courts-martial. In 1985, he was appointed to the bench as Federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Missouri. During that time, he chaired the Eighth Circuit Model Civil and Criminal Jury Instruction subcommittees.
The Honorable Peter J. Lindberg ’63
The Honorable Peter J. Lindberg ’63 passed away on January 23 at age 90. Lindberg was born in Red Wing and grew up in St. Louis Park. The first in his family to graduate from college, Lindberg graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1961 and the University of Minnesota Law School in 1963. Gov. Wendell Anderson appointed him to the Hennepin County Court in 1974. He served on the court for 26 years, including four years as Chief Judge for the Fourth Judicial District. His legal background contributed to his role as USA Hockey’s first legal council chair. He also served as one of 200 arbitrators worldwide who helped resolve disputes between athletes and sports federations determining eligibility for international competitions and the Olympic Games.
Richard P. Moe ’66
Richard P. Moe ’66 passed away on September 15 at age 88. Moe was born in Duluth and attended Shattuck- St. Mary’s School in Faribault. He went on to Williams College in Massachusetts and received his B.A. in 1959. Active in politics, he volunteered for the DFL party and worked on Hubert Humphrey’s senatorial campaign in 1960. Following his graduation from Minnesota Law in 1966, he was elected state party chair in 1969. He was selected by Senator Walter Mondale to run his Washington office and, he was then named chief of staff when Mondale became vice president. He was appointed by President-elect Carter to serve simultaneously on his own senior staff. Though he served many roles during his life, a law school classmate said Moe never changed. Describing his friend, he said, “We could use more people like him today. His integrity, his intellect — he knew right from wrong. In government, that’s so important.”
Thomas O. Moe ’63
Thomas O. Moe ’63 passed away on February 15 at age 87. He was a celebrated athlete at Edina High School. His athletic success continued at the University of Minnesota where he was named Most Valuable Player in football and was on the winning NCAA College World Series with his Gopher baseball team. Moe enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1963. He joined Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis, becoming a partner in 1968. Moe became chairman of the policy committee and managing partner of the firm in 1989 and served in those roles for 10 years. Under his leadership, the firm expanded and became the 25th-largest in the nation. He was named the 2000 “Lawyer of the Year” by Minnesota Law and Politics. After retiring from the firm in 1999, he was named Director of Men’s Athletics at the University of Minnesota.
The Honorable Harlan Nelson ’59
The Honorable Harlan Nelson ’59, passed away on October 14 at age 93. Nelson grew up in Litchfield, Minn., and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1954. He served active duty in both the U.S. Army and Air Force and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1959. He was appointed Otter Tail County Attorney in 1963. In 1978, Governor Rudy Perpich appointed him as an Otter Tail County District Court judge.
James W. Rustad ’67
James W. Rustad ’67 passed away on September 23 at age 83. Rustad was a native of Minneapolis and graduated from Washburn High School. He attended the University of Minnesota, earning an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. In 1964, he enrolled in the University of Minnesota Law School and later went on to earn an MBA from the University in 1972. His career included working for the legal department at General Mills, where he trained to become a patent attorney and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent Office. He spent several years in general law practice with local firms before joining Merrill Lynch and later RBC Wealth Management. In the years following his retirement in 2005, he pursued his passion for the arts.
The Honorable Spencer J. Sokolowski ’62
The Honorable Spencer J. Sokolowski ’62 passed away on January 10 at age 94. Sokolowski was born and raised in northeast Minneapolis, attending Edison High School and the University of Minnesota. While in college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Sokolowski enrolled in the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1962. He practiced law for several law firms and served as Columbia Heights city attorney before starting his own law practice. In 1970, he won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. There, he met Gov. Wendell Anderson, who later appointed him as judge of the Anoka County Court. He served communities in the 10th Judicial District for almost 30 years, acting as chief judge for several of those years.
The Honorable Michael A. Young ’73
The Honorable Michael A. Young ’73 passed away on September 9 at age 78. Young was born in Faribault, spent his early years in St. Cloud, and graduated from Wayzata High School in 1965. After attending St. Olaf College, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He then enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School and graduated in 1973. For 10 years, Young served as a partner in the Chaska law firm of Melchert Hubert Young Sjodin and was appointed a judge for Scott County District Court in 1983.