Mourning the loss of Prof. Jacqueline Kanovitz, longtime 'force' at Brandeis

Jacqueline Kanovitz, known to her friends as Jackie, was described as a “force” by those who knew her.

It is with sadness that the Brandeis School of Law notes her passing on Jan. 18, 2017.

She had a large law school family community who knew her as a classmate, a teacher and a colleague.

She graduated with highest honors from the law school in 1967, with the highest grade point average in the history of the law school. After graduating, she practiced with the Legal Aid Society for two years.

She then joined the University of Louisville law faculty as its first female member. She was the first woman to be tenured at the law school.

She was the co-author of a leading casebook on Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice, a project she began as a third-year law student. Kanovitz taught contracts, Uniform Commercial Code, property, decedents' estates and psychiatry and the law. She served as the associate dean for student affairs from 1989-90. 

Kanovitz was honored several times during her time as a faculty member, including receiving the 1995 Community Service Award from UofL and being named the 1996 UofL Outstanding Professor in Post Graduate Professional Education.

She retired in 1998 after teaching hundreds of students and serving as a role model of a strong individual who was supportive of others and generous with her spirit. She is always described as an outstanding and caring teacher. She was much admired and appreciated.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of Professor Kanovitz’s passing," said Dean Susan Duncan. "She taught me negotiable interests. Little did I know, I would teach that same class nine years later. She also provided me valuable and sometimes comical advice on my faculty career. She supported this school and me with every role I accepted. I will miss her intellect, her love of life and her wonderful smile and laugh. She truly was a legend."

Kanovitz’s role in setting the milestone for women at the law school is included in the Women’s History classroom, dedicated in 2003.

Community Newspaper published a story about Kanovitz, noting the gender barriers she helped break down.