On October 7, the law school lost a dedicated colleague and friend when adjunct faculty member Josh Kadish passed away. He taught mediation, negotiation, and family law to generations of students during his twenty-five years with Lewis & Clark Law School.
“Josh was an inspiration to all of us,” said Lewis & Clark law professor and former dean Bob Klonoff. “Unfailingly kind, generous with his time, and one of our most dedicated and popular adjunct professors. He was a pioneer in the field of collaborative approaches for resolving domestic relations disputes. The law school community will deeply miss him.”
The following are excerpts from his family’s remembrance note:
Kadish studied at Haverford (BA) and Stanford (JD), and had a distinguished thirty-four-year career as an attorney. He practiced at Meyer & Wyse, later Wyse Kadish. He was consistently listed among Oregon’s Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America and in 2014, he was named Lawyer of the Year for Family Mediation.
Kadish was a great asset to the community. He volunteered regularly at Legal Aid, habitually picked up litter around Hillsdale, and was board president for many organizations including Neighborhood House, Chamber Music Northwest, Young Musicians and Artists, and the Hillsdale Farmers Market, which he supported from its inception, setting up, rain or shine, and playing music.
He was born to June and Sanford Kadish on June 28, 1951 and met his wife, Lisa Maas, playing oboe in the Berkeley High School Orchestra. Kadish was a committed and active member of his community, and enjoyed playing music and spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids.
An avid musician, Kadish was an oboist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer throughout his life. His songs and stories of his generosity, unpretentiousness, intellect, wisdom, and dry wit will live on through his family, friends, and colleagues.
A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m., Dec. 15, 2018, in the Eliot Chapel at the First Unitarian Church of Portland. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Neighborhood House in Josh’s name.
