I just learned the terrible news that Jeanne Gray, the Director of the ABA's Center for Professional Responsibility, died earlier today. I was forwarded this announcement from Jack Rives, the ABA's Executive Director:
I am deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of a long-time leader of our ABA staff, Jeanne Gray. Jeanne died this afternoon at Northwestern Hospital, surrounded by members of her family.
Jeanne worked for the ABA for 33 years and served most recently as the Associate Executive Director for Public Services. She was a lawyer with exceptional integrity who was fiercely committed not only to the ABA, but also to professional responsibility for all lawyers. She forged strong relationships with members and staff and was known throughout the association and the profession for her kindness and generosity.
Upon receiving the Charles W. Kettlewell Legal Ethics Advisor Award in 2010, Jeanne commented that what inspired her “to stay for so long [at the ABA] were the people and the causes along the way.”
Indeed, she has had a remarkable record of achievement as Director of the Center for Professional Responsibility (CPR) that included: the Model Rules of Professional Conduct; Model Rules for Lawyer and Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement; Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions; Model Code of Judicial Conduct; and Ethics 2000, Ethics 20/20, Commission on Multijurisdictional Practice and the Commission on Multidisciplinary Practices.
Don Hilliker, who served as Chair of the Ethics Committee and as Chair of the Center's Coordinating Council once said, “Jeanne Gray has more passion for the importance of lawyer and judicial ethics than anyone I know."
Jeanne met her husband of 33 years, Paul Gallagher, while they were both working at the ABA. Jeanne is also survived by her daughter, Brett, and her twin sons, Sean and Brendan. Information on services will be provided.
We will all miss Jeanne terribly, and her family will of course be in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days. I hope you will find comfort in many wonderful memories of Jeanne.
There is so much that can be said about Jeanne's contributions to our field, but it's hard to do better than this wonderful tribute by Mark Harrison on the occassion of Jeanne's winning the Charles W. Kettlewell Legal Ethics Advisor Award a few years ago.
I'm sure I speak for all of us at the blog in saying that our thoughts are with Jeanne's family, friends, and colleagues at the Center during this difficult time.