Dean Emeritus Edward Godfrey, or “Ed” as he preferred to be called, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, after battling various ailments for the previous four months. He was 91.
Godfrey came to Southern Maine as the founding dean of the re-established law school. In 1976, he was appointed to the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine as an associate justice and served the court until 1983.
In 1984, Godfrey came back to Maine’s School of Law as a professor. Following his return to the Maine School of Law, the Edward S. Godfrey fund was created to honor all of Godfrey’s hard work and dedication in the field of law.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Godfrey grew up in Albany, New York. He graduated summa cum laude from the Albany Academy in 1930, from Harvard College in 1934 and from Columbia University Law School in 1939.
Godfrey served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946, the last year as a Management Control Officer in General Macarthur’s headquarters in Manila. He received the Bronze Star Medal and retired as a Major.
In his numerous decades, Godfrey aided the Maine School of Law as a mentor, friend and highly respected work colleague. As a man who advocated hard work, treating others with respect and intellectual honesty, his efforts and accomplishments at this University will not be forgotten.
Godfrey served the law community not just as an academic, but as a muse. As an avid reader and accomplished bridge player, he inspired many people while living and working in Southern Maine.
“The fairness, decency and courage of this good and honest man [is] forever ingrained in my mind. I only hoped and prayed that I might emulate some of that decency,” said Martin W. Murphy, Esq., a former student.
According to Godfrey, “Honor is in the doing, not the praise that follows.” It has been made quite apparent he did everything and more, in his life that made him a memorable, and honorable man to all that he knew.