Roger Wolf

Roger C. Wolf died peacefully at his home in Pleasant Valley, Maryland on December 30, 2017.  He lived a full and rich life as a lawyer, law professor, mediator and farmer.  Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, he was most known for his work in the field of mediation: training students to be mediators, conducting trainings throughout Maryland of lawyers, judges and other interested people, working with mediator groups to draft standards of ethics and performance in this newly developing field, hosting conferences on the use of mediation in health care disputes and establishing the Center of Dispute Resolution (C-DRUM) at the University of Maryland.  He served as the Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association and Co-Chair of the ABA (American Bar Association) Ethical Guidance Committee.  He served as a mediator in Circuit Courts throughout Maryland, for the Maryland Human Relations Commission, for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Baltimore Region, and for the US Postal Service.  He received the Chief Judge Robert Bell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Alternative Dispute Resolution in Maryland in 2007 and was honored as a Leader in the Law in 2004.  He also spent 9 years as Special Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Attorney General's Clinic at Maryland.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Roger was a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Harvard College, and the George Washington University School of Law.  He served as the President of the National Association of Temple Youth (NFTY), as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia 1962-64, as the founding Director of the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services, and as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow (Reggie) and Managing Attorney at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program in Washington D.C. Prior to his 30 years at the University of Maryland Law School, he taught at Catholic University's law school, directing a clinical program there.

Roger also spent great energy farming.  His main crops were 10 acres of wine grapes, a good sized flock of sheep (30-70 ewes & their assorted lambs), Christmas trees and some Red Angus beef cattle.  He was a founding board member of the Maryland Grape Growers Association' serving as their first vice president and their second President.  He was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland State Winery & Grape Grower Advisory Board.  He exhibited his sheep at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, winning ribbons including grand champion one year and sold fleeces to weavers and handspinners.  He spent hours in his garden, getting his potatoes planted near St Patrick's Day and was particularly pleased with his garlic crop.  His farm in Pleasant Valley was a source of great comfort and he loved nothing more than working and spending time there.  His family was very glad that he could be there at the end of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years: Judy Lyons Wolf; his 4 children: Joel, Benjamin, Asher and Thea; their spouses and children- his 6 grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sister Nancy Wolf, 4 sisters in law, 3 brothers in law, many nieces, nephews, grand nieces & nephews.  His wisdom, energy, humor and passion will be greatly missed by family and friends.

He donated his body to science, particularly for Parkinson's and glioblastoma research.  After his cremation, his family will have a private ashes distribution ceremony.  A Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date to be determined in May.  Contributions in his memory may be made to his center, C-DRUM at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law: online: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/CDRUMgift or by mail:  sending a check made payable to UMBF,Inc/C-DRUM to 500 West Baltimore St, Baltimore MD 21201-1786.