Looking Back on the Life and Career of Prof. Erik B. Bluemel, 1977-2009

Just over one year ago, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law lost a colleague and friend, Prof. Erik Bluemel. Some of you may have had Prof. Bluemel in class. He was on the way to becoming an influential American environmental law professor, an observation reflected by the fact that he had published 15 scholarly papers in less than 10 years. His death was an enormous loss to his family and to the entire DU community.

Prof. Justin Marceau, who also teaches at the College of Law, was a one of Erik's closest friends. Last year Prof. Marceau wrote a moving and insightful tribute to Erik Bluemel. You can access it by clicking here.

In the wake of Prof. Bluemel's death the College of Law has established the Erik B. Bluemel International Environmental Law Scholar, a position that focuses on international environmental law and human rights.

In our hectic day-to-day lives, we often pay too little attention to the fragility of life and to the commitment and enthusiasm of those with whom we spend much of our time. In Erik Bluemel we remember a young man who was curious, industrious, and a citizen of the world. Not a bad legacy. Not a bad legacy at all.

--Don C. Smith