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Paul Richard Baier

Paul Richard Baier obituary, Baton Rouge, LA

Paul Baier Obituary

Paul Richard Baier, beloved husband and father, passed away at his home on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the age of 78. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was a longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Karl Baier and Antonia Janowsczyk Baier and brother-in-law, Daniel "Danny" Lynn Mast. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Gelpi Baier, daughters, Piper Baier Treuting and Erika Baier Rabalais (David), son, Adam Paul Baier, stepson, Justin Ross Chatelain (Emily), stepdaughter, Lindsey Chatelain Erickson (Brett), grandchildren, Quinn Bloemeke. Treuting, Tess Baier Treuting, Adrienne Meigs Rabalais, R. David "DJ" Rabalais Jr., Theodore Paul "Teddy" Rabalais, Bennett James Chatelain, Sullivan Kyle Chatelain, Carter Richard Erickson and sister, Ruby Baier Mast. Paul attended University of Cincinnati (summa cum laude) where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received his J.D. in 1969 from Harvard Law School (cum laude) where he was editor of the Harvard Legal Commentary. He joined the LSU Law faculty in 1972 after teaching at the University of Michigan Law School and the University of Tennessee College of Law. While there, he established himself as an expert in constitutional law, civil rights litigation, and appellate advocacy, and was both the George M. Armstrong, Jr. and the Judge Henry A. Politz professors of law. Professor Baier served as a Judicial Fellow at the U.S. Supreme Court in 1975-76 and as Executive Director of the Louisiana Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution from 1987-1991. In 1989, Judge Eldon Fallon invited Professor Baier to become the first Scholar-in-Residence of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, a position he was very proud of. He was a Special Assistant State Attorney General in several U.S. Supreme Court and 5th Circuit cases, including the Louisiana Higher Education Desegregation Case. He taught summer programs in France and Italy with Justice Harry A. Blackmun and Justice Antonin Scalia. The Louisiana Bar Foundation named Paul its Distinguished Professor in 2004 and the senior class at the Law Center voted him Law Professor of the Year in 2010. The Tiger Athletic Foundation honored him in 2007 and 2011 with its prestigious TAF Undergraduate Teaching Award for his teaching in the LSU Honors College. He was a Board member and Secretary of the Louisiana Supreme Court Historical Society for the past 17 years. In January 2020, Professor Baier retired after 47 years and was named professor emeritus for his distinguished career and service to the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. In 2020, he published the capstone of his impressive career in scholarship, "Written in Water: An Experiment in Legal Biography," a biography of Colonel Frederick Bernays Wiener. Among his other scholarly works include "Speeches", a publication of his speeches covering over 30 years of his professional life, "What Is the Use of a Law Book Without Pictures or Conversations", and The Diamond Anniversary Sixth Edition of "The Pocket Constitutionalist". He is the editor of memoirs of Justice Hugo L. Black, Mr. Justice and Mrs. Black and of "Lions Under the Throne: the Edward Douglass White Lectures of Chief Justices Warren R. Burger and William H. Rehnquist," (1995). His play, "Father Chief Justice": Edward Douglass White and the Constitution included runs in the Coolidge Auditorium, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, and in the Social Law Library in Boston. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 3:30 pm at LSU Faculty Club, 101 Tower Drive on Sunday, March 6, 2022, with funeral services to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Louisiana Supreme Court Historical Society or the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Professor Baier will be remembered not only for his iconic teaching career, many accomplishments, and contributions to the legal profession, but for the kind and delightful, eloquent, and truly genuine individual that he was. We are such stuff as dreams are made on - The Tempest.

Published by The Advocate from Mar. 1 to Mar. 6, 2022.
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Memories and Condolences
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I think of you and Barbara whenever I sit at the bar at Phil's. You are so missed!

Tammy Simien

School

February 23, 2023

I met Paul only once, when I was introduced to him over lunch in Baton Rouge in 1990 while there for a deposition of a witness in a case pending in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Paul once taught. There were three of us at lunch, as the lawyer introducing us had taken a class of Paul's at the University of Michigan Law School, and was traveling with me for the deposition. We had a bracing conversation on constitutional issues when Paul reached into his pocket a produced a copy of The Pocket Constitutionalist. It was autographed by Hugo Black, one of my favorite justices, and well underlined and annotated by Paul in fountain pen ink. We chatted for a long time and I was so impressed with his book I asked if I could order one. He said, "no, take this one" and over my protestations at taking his autographed copy, said he had other copies. I've treasured the book ever since and have consulted it hundreds of times. Today, I opened it and thought I would look him up to get his address to write him a note to say how useful he has been to me (in my 57th year of trying cases). I was deeply saddened to read of his passing. He was a remarkable man-- wise, warm, and witty-- with a delightful sense of humor. My sincere condolences to his wife and family.

Peter A. Davis

Work

October 2, 2022

Barbara and family, we were so sorry to find out that Paul had passed away. We were on vacation so felt bad about missing the service and the opportunity to express our sympathies.

Paul was such a special person to all of us at the Law Center and to me and my family personally. Our son Brian thought the world of Professor Baier and knows that Justin and you all will miss him dearly.

I don't recall Paul being anything but nice and jovial every time I would see him. I believe one of the first times I met him was with you on the state capitol grounds and we had a nice visit that day and he was so nice to brag about our son Brian. And then all the subsequent times after I started working at the Law Center, just a great guy and so intelligent. It was always a pleasure and special occasion to run into him and visit in the Law School hall! Which we did many times!
All of us will miss him!

Please know that we are praying for all of you and our sympathies are with you! John

John Hightower

Friend

March 15, 2022

Barbara, I am so sorry for your loss. I first met Paul his first year teaching at LSU. It seems as if I was constantly finding out something new and interesting about him. If ever a person was born to be a lawyer, it was Paul. The legal profession lost a true soldier of the legal community.

Mike Aaron

March 8, 2022

I knew Professor Baier when I was in high school with his daughter - though we kept in touch sporadically as I entered the legal profession. I will never forget his motoring around town in his white convertible VW beetle listening to the Rolling Stones. We developed a nice friendship; he was a bigger influence on me than he knew.

Michael Kehoe

March 8, 2022

A great loss in many aspects of the Law and Life.

Judge Byron Stringer, retired, and Mrs. Fran Stringer

March 6, 2022

Oh Barbara, I am too sorry for words that he has passed. We had lunch not long ago; he gave me his book, his "Magnum Opus," for me to read and us discuss at a later lunch we never got to have. He was my friend, co-counsel and fellow "licked lawyer," as he put it, because of another Quixotic tilt at justice before the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court we had together. He encouraged me greatly in my most recent endeavors to uphold our Constitution, and his friendship and guidance will always be treasured by me. Far too soon, far too soon. Tempus fugit. I pray your sorrows will be tempered by the knowledge of how much he was loved, and how many others share in your grief.

Jeff Wittenbrink

Friend

March 5, 2022

Dear Barbara,
As you know, I first connected with Paul at our 50th law school reunion, but we became fast friends thereafter, and I had the privilege of reviewing for the LSU Law Review his marvelous book, Written In Water. Paul, like his book, was incredibly original, witty, and broad-based. I will miss him hugely. Please accept my deep condolences. -- Jed Rakoff

Jed Rakoff

March 5, 2022

I will miss you, dear friend. Rest in peace.

ALBERTO LUIS ZUPPI

Work

March 5, 2022

Barbara,

It is with the deepest sympathy that I attempt to write this message. Paul was a professor, mentor and, most importantly, a dear, dear friend to me. It was truly a honor to have known him. My life is better because he passed through it. He will be tremendously missed.

Tammy Simien

March 3, 2022

I enjoyed his wit, his melodious voice, his charming swagger, and acting in one of his plays a time or two.

David Madden

March 2, 2022

I was the reporter when Professor Baier tried his action, pro se, to be present for the birth of his first daughter, I believe, at then-Lane Memorial Hospital in Zachary. Judge Melvin Shortess was presiding. He was a joy for me in court, a sometimes frustrating joy for the Judge. A friendship was born between those two. I ran into him often thereafter when out and about or around the lakes mostly walking when he was running and when he was bound at the knees and only walking. As anyone can attest, he was always ready with a story that was either a cautionary tale, a life lesson or just something to generate comradeship. For me, a loss of a positive force in our area.

Daniel Martin, ret. court reporter

Friend

March 2, 2022

I am so sorry for the passing of such an awesome Professor of law. I worked at LSU Paul Hebert from 2001-2007 as secretarial staff. It was indeed a pleasure knowing him. I pray for the family to have peace and comfort during this time.

Deborah Williams

Work

March 2, 2022

The family of E. D White thank you for reviving our memories of him.

Harry Hardin

Friend

March 2, 2022

My condolences and prayers to Professor Baier's family and friends and the LSU law school community.

Nadia E Nedzel, SULC Professor of Law Emerita

Work

March 2, 2022

We were so lucky to have him. I will miss that delightful man.

Steve covert

Friend

March 2, 2022

I've only known Paul for few years, but I was impressed that he was a scholar and a gentleman. May his family be comforted in the knowledge that his was a life well-lived.

Raphael Cassimere, Jr.

Raphael Cassimere Jr

Friend

March 2, 2022

I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the Baier family. I first met Professor Baier when I was an undergraduate student worker at the LSU Law Center. He was very kind to me. Then I had several wonderful occasions to work and socialize with him when he served as the Secretary of the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society. I remember when the Law Library of Louisiana assisted him with staging "Father, Chief Justice" on Loyola's campus. Professor Baier will be greatly missed, but his spirit will continue to inspire the lives he touched.

Miriam D. Childs

March 2, 2022

I was fortunate to study constitutional law and civil liberties under Professor Baier. His enthusiasm and reverence for the law is still with me. He was the most important teacher, the most memorable and inspiring teacher, in my life. Plus he was a kind and thoughtful man. As I look back over almost 40 years of law practice, I remain inspired by Professor Baier's words, his love for the law, and his always-youthful idealism. He was the best and he will be missed.

Jim Gates

School

March 1, 2022

Many fun family gatherings. Paul will be missed greatly.

MaryJane Gelpi

Family

March 1, 2022

There are some who are born to teach, but even the teacher needs to be taught. Paul was forever seeking knowledge in a wide array of disciplines from the legal to the leisure, always sharing his knowledge which often included laughter and always lagniappe!

Ted Gelpi

Family

March 1, 2022

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Memorial Events
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Mar

6

Visitation

1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

LSU Faculty Club

101 Tower Drive, LA

Mar

6

Funeral service

LSU Faculty Club

101 Tower Drive, LA

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