Notices
The ÎçÒ¹AV community mourns the death of Vincent J. Samar, PhD, LLM, JD, MPA, who passed away on December 29, 2024. Dr. Samar served in a variety of teaching roles at ÎçÒ¹AV throughout his career, including most recently as an advanced lecturer of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, an associate faculty member in the Graduate School, and an adjunct professor in the School of Law.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Samar was an LGBTQ+ activist, testifying before city and county committees to get increased AIDS funding and passage of the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance.
He published two books, The Right to Privacy: Gays, Lesbians and the Constitution (1991) and Justifying Judgment: Practicing Law and Philosophy (1999), and edited The New York Times, 20th Century in Review: Gay Rights Movement (2001). He also published four chapters in books on law and human rights, and more than 38 articles, most of which appeared in law reviews on topics concerning human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, international law, and constitutional theory.
Dr. Samar received his LLM from Harvard Law School, his JD/MPA from Syracuse University, and his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. His areas of specialization were philosophy of law, constitutional and international law, political philosophy, and ethics. He has also taught courses in logic, introduction to philosophy, introduction to law, and classical modern philosophy.
Dr. Samar will be remembered by colleagues and students alike for his commitment to his scholarly work and passion for social justice and advocacy for others.
Final arrangements are still pending. Donations in his memory may be made to Lambda Legal (Chicago or New York City offices), ACLU (Chicago office), or DignityUSA (Boston).