צדק צדק תרדוף
Justice, Justice, you shall pursue.

Robert Aronson, 73, passed away Friday, June 4, 2021 in San Marcos, California. He died at home in the early morning with his wife and two daughters at his side. After decades of fighting heart issues, he is finally at peace, though our world will be a less bright place. He will be remembered for his strength, kindness, brilliance, and sense of humor. Up until the end, he would do anything to make his family laugh.

Rob is survived by his wife of 39 years, Terri Aronson, and his two daughters, Tammy and Jenny. He will be fondly remembered by his three sisters, Carole, Shari, and Sandy, his brother Gary, and his many beloved nieces and nephews. During the toughest stretches of his career, Rob was often out of the house in the early morning hours or on the road. His daughters cherish the kind and thoughtful notes he wrote them in the morning wishing them a good day at school, encouraging them tough times would pass, and promising to return to read a favorite book.

His treasured friends and colleagues were like family, too. Their love and support to Rob and his family meant more than can be adequately expressed.
 

Though it is unfair to try and describe such a life and career in brief, we will do our very best. 

Rob joined the faculty at University of Washington Law School in 1975, where he taught for 37 years. He was a nationally recognized expert in professional responsibility, sports law, and evidence. Rob was an active member of the faculty with accomplishments too numerous to list. An avid athlete, Rob spent much of his time in retirement playing golf. He loved any day he could get out on the course with his cherished golf buddies.

Having played soccer, lacrosse, and even football (briefly, another good story) at the University of Virginia, Rob was also a zealous advocate for student athletes.  His work with the Athletic Department led to him serving as faculty athletic representative and committee member, and eventual president, of the Pac-10 Athletic Conference. He fought the win-at-all-costs mentality of some in the legal and athletic communities, working to preserve the value of both.  He encouraged his daughters to pursue sports as well, coaching their soccer teams and taking them to sporting events. He impressed upon them early the unfairness of gender inequalities in sports, with an exhaustive knowledge of athletes of all genders.

He cared deeply for all of his students, thrice winning Outstanding Professor of the Year. Rob was as focused on his students’ moral development as their professional development.  One of his favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln proclaimed "You must remember that some things legally right are not morally right." Many students will remember him playing one of his favorite movie scenes during orientation, the closing arguments of Atticus Finch in the screen adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird." In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he pioneered a pre-law seminar taught to 80 undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds. To encourage creative thinking, he let students earn credit through poetry, music, and creative writing assignments.  He once said, "I can take little credit, but enormous enjoyment, watching the incredible achievements of my former students."

Though many of his professional accomplishments are notable for their prestige, those that mattered most to Rob were closely tied to his view that justice is what love looks like. He was most proud of his declaration in Fisons v. Physicians Insurance Exchange, where his efforts helped to establish a higher standard of conduct in pretrial discovery against prevailing opinions in the legal community. Shortly after Fisons, he was asked by members of the Attorney General’s Office to assist in the case of the State of Washington against the tobacco industry.  His expert opinion that lawyers helping to engineer misinformation to the public about the addictive and carcinogenic aspects of tobacco had violated their ethical duty was described as "breaking the dam." He also testified in a congressional hearing investigating the conduct of Vice President Dan Quayle. Rob also found particular meaning in his work to establish the clinical law program at UW. 

Rob's affairs are being handled by Am Israel Mortuary in San Diego. Though Rob did not want a formal memorial service, it would be a great comfort to his family to share fond memories or ways that Rob impacted your life on this page. 

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you donate to a legal nonprofit with great meaning to Rob and his family, the Washington Innocence Project. May his memory be a blessing to all whose lives he touched.