David S. Weissbrodt

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Weissbrodt, David S. age 77, of Minneapolis, passed away November 11, 2021. Professor Weissbrodt, Regents Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota Law School, was a distinguished and widely published scholar of international human rights law. He was born in Washington DC and attended Columbia University and the London School of Economics. He received his J.D. degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He joined the University of Minnesota Law School faculty in 1975, where he established the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center and began the University of Minnesota Human Rights Library online to make human rights documents easily available, even in countries where access to such laws were difficult or discouraged. He helped found and served as an officer or board member of the Advocates for Human Rights and the Center for Victims of Torture. He established the International Human Rights Internship Program to give students the opportunity to work in human rights organizations all over the world. He cared deeply about his students and inspired many to dedicate their professional lives to making human rights a practical reality. During the years 1996-2003 he served as a member of the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and was elected Chairperson of the Sub- Commission for 2001-02, becoming the first American since Eleanor Roosevelt to chair a UN human rights body. He was preceded in death by parents, Israel Saul Weissbrodt and Selma Mushkin; and sister, Ellen Weissbrodt Dagger. He is survived by spouse, Mary Patricia Schaffer; son, James Weissbrodt; and daughter, Bronwen (Robert Davenport) Weissbrodt; grandchildren, Aaliyah, Robert, and Riley; sister, Amy (Gregory) Monahan; brother-in-law, John Dagger; nieces, Rachel and Cora Monahan; and nephews, Jacob, Peter, and Will Dagger. Graveside service 11:00 am, SUNDAY, November 14th, TEMPLE ISRAEL MEMORIAL PARK, 4200 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis. The service is also available on Zoom, for the link please send email to zoom1@hodroffepstein.com. Memorials preferred to one of David's local human rights organizations. Hodroff-Epstein 612-871-1234 hodroffepstein.com

Published on November 13, 2021