John Gradwohl, in Loving Memory

• Publication year: 2021
• Citation: Vol. 93

93 Nebraska L. Rev. 1. John Gradwohl, In Loving Memory

John Gradwohl, In Loving Memory

Josephine (Jo) R. Potuto(fn*)

John Gradwohl lived his life with passion and conviction. He never dabbled. There was no putting one toe in the water to test the temperature. When he liked something, he REALLY liked it. When he advocated for something he REALLY advocated. He was a person of strong opinions, as those of us on the receiving end well know. He loved a good argument, and he wanted a worthy opponent. No patsies for him. One had to enter the arena fully armed.

And yet, ask him for advice, and he morphed into Solon on the hill, all temperance, reasoned discussion, and exceptionally good counsel. He examined all sides of a question. He explored all potential consequences. Likely that's one of the reasons he was such a sought-after arbitrator and well-respected judge on the Nebraska Court of Industrial Relations.

No tribute to John would be complete without writing about Jan too. They were the ultimate couple. They taught together in China. They wrote a book on comparative law. They spent lots of quality time with family and friends. They shared a love of sports-especially college sports and more especially Husker sports. They loved music and the theater. For the amusement and edification of their friends, they wrote reviews of plays they saw, pointing out where they agreed and where they disagreed. John and Jan once competed against each other to see whose investment strategy would prevail. They each picked a couple of investments and then tracked their progress for several months. Loser picked up dinner at a restaurant of the winner's choice. John and Jan traveled extensively around the world. You can imagine where the dinner was held.

John saw, long before most, that the practice of law would require interdisciplinary training and cultural and international awareness. He advocated and worked for joint-degree programs at the law college. He was passionate about advancing the interests of minorities. He

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and Jan endowed the College of Law with the Centennial Scholarship Fund for minority and international students.

John joined the law faculty in 1959. Remembering him and honoring his contributions is too large a subject for one person to tackle alone. Here, then, are reminiscences from colleagues who joined...