Alan Freeman of Amherst, noted author and professor of law in the University at Buffalo Law School, died Friday (May 26, 1995) in Buffalo General Hospital after a long illness. He was 51.
A constitutional law expert, he joined the UB faculty in 1982 after serving as a visiting professor the previous year. He formerly taught at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Freeman and his wife and colleague, Elizabeth Mensch, co-wrote the recently published book, "The Politics of Virtue: Is Abortion Debatable?" The book advocates introducing theological thought into the public debate on abortion to bring about a compromise between the two sides of the volatile issue.
He and his wife also co-wrote a textbook on property law and collaborated on numerous book chapters, articles in legal journals, essays, reviews and commentaries.
Freeman's articles on critical race theory are nationally renowned, according to Nils Olsen, vice dean for academic affairs at the UB law school.
"His recent scholarship with his wife and colleague (Elizabeth Mensch) touched upon many difficult, contemporary issues with great sensitivity and insight," Olsen said.
Freeman had a bachelor's degree from Brown University and a law degree from New York University School of Law.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jennifer of Amherst; two sons, James and Jeremy of Amherst; two stepsons, Jonathan and Joshua Mensch of New York City; his parents, Julius and Florence Freeman of Amherst; and a sister, Jane Levine of Evanston, Ill.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete Friday night. [hudkins]
