In Memoriam: Howard A. Glickstein

In Memoriam: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dean Emeritus Howard Glickstein

The Touro Law Center community deeply mourns the passing of Howard Glickstein, a beloved educator, visionary leader, advocate, and cornerstone of our institution. Howard’s life was defined by an enduring commitment to justice and an unwavering belief in the power of legal education to change lives. He did not just practice or teach the law; he lived its highest ideals.

Appointed as the third Dean of Touro Law Center, Howard served with distinction for 17 years. He began his legal career as an Associate with the New York City law firm of Proskauer, Rose, Goetz and Mendelsohn, specializing in labor law. He went on to serve as a staff attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Appeals and Research Section, where he helped draft the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Howard later became the General Counsel and subsequently the Staff Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Continuing his profound impact on civil rights education, he served as the founding director of the Notre Dame Center for Civil Rights before joining the faculty at Howard University School of Law. In 1980, he was appointed Dean of the University of Bridgeport School of Law.

In 1986, Howard joined Touro Law Center, where he truly brought the school’s mission of ethical obligation and social justice to reality. Fueled by his vision of a more equitable world, thousands of men and women graduated under his leadership. He ensured they became socially conscious, ethically aware attorneys, thoroughly prepared for the realities of legal practice. Howard was also the visionary behind moving Touro Law from its Huntington location to its current home in Central Islip, creating a groundbreaking law campus adjacent to both a federal and a state courthouse.

Following his retirement as Dean in 2004, Howard continued to serve our community as Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law. He remained an active and vital member of the Touro Law family, serving on our Board of Governors and working closely with externship supervisors to guarantee students continued to receive an exceptional educational experience. Passionate about student success, he established scholarships and donated generously to the law school to support both students and programs.

Howard’s reach extended far beyond campus walls. He lent his expertise to numerous boards and committees, including the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and the AALS Academic Freedom Committee. He was a past president of the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT), served on the Board of the Long Island Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, and co-chair of the ERASE Racism Board of Directors.

Howard dedicated his life to shaping lawyers who would go out into the world not just to succeed, but to serve. He believed deeply that the true measure of a legal education lay in its capacity to uplift the vulnerable. Through his guidance, generations of students were inspired to become fierce advocates for those in need, ensuring that his passion for equity and justice will ripple through courtrooms and communities for decades to come.

Beyond his monumental professional achievements, Howard’s true greatness lay in his humanity. He possessed a rare, expansive heart and an innate generosity that touched everyone he met. Yet, among his many virtues, it was his profound kindness that truly defined him. In a profession often marked by sharp edges, Howard was a sanctuary of warmth, patience, and decency.

Howard was a trusted mentor, a pillar of our school, and above all, a deeply cherished friend. He walked through the world with a gentle strength, leaving it significantly better than he found it. While his absence leaves a profound void in our halls, his spirit lives on in the countless lives he transformed and the enduring community he helped build.

May his memory be a blessing.

The Law Center will hold a Memorial in his honor at a later date.

To honor his legacy, donations can be made to the Howard A. Glickstein Endowed Public Interest Fellowship Fund.