Laura Chisolm: the light in the room.

• Author: Dale, Harvey P.
• Position: Former Case Western Reserve University School of Law professor - Testimonial

I met Laura Chisolm in Cleveland on a sunny day in the mid-1980s. The New York University School of Law had recently begun a "Study on Philanthropy and the Law" that I was directing. (1) The Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations was already in operation at Case Western Reserve University, and I wanted to understand its mission, programs, processes, and organization. Laura was the Law School's representative at the Mandel Center, and she agreed to spend some time with me to discuss these matters.

Laura--not then yet a tenured full Professor--spent several hours with me that day, patiently explaining everything I wanted to know about the Mandel Center. By the time I left to fly back to New York City, I had learned a lot. Some of what I learned involved the Mandel Center, but my strongest impressions were of Laura herself. Even in those first few hours, she impressed me with her intelligence, kindness, patience, good humor, and amazing warmth. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Before long, I had (to my good fortune) managed to enlist Laura's support for the "Study" I was undertaking, and then for the "Program" and the "National Center" that followed. (2) Over many years, Laura was an unfailing source of good judgment, good cheer, and good companionship. She served as a member of the Board of Advisors to the NCPL. She prepared and presented two major papers at annual conferences of the NCPL. (3) She was a stalwart and enthusiastic participant in the work of the NCPL. She was always cheerfully available to lend a hand and provide thoughtful guidance.

In the late 1980s, a small group of academics and practitioners, all of whom shared a deep interest in legal issues affecting not-for-profit organizations, organized an informal "club" called the Nonprofit Forum. The Forum has met in New York City every other month (except for the summer months) since then. Each member, in rotation, prepares a paper on an area in which the law impacts charities and presents that paper at a Forum dinner. The ensuing dialog and debate are rigorous and often boisterous. Laura was one of the first members of the Forum. She rarely missed those dinners (even though she had to travel from Cleveland to attend them) and she was an unfailingly energetic participant in those discussions. Her contributions were many and her enthusiasm was always palpable.

One of Laura's and my closest colleagues, Professor John Simon of the Yale Law School, had--in...