I learned yesterday of the passing of Tom Schaub. In a blog focused primarily on law professors and dispute resolution, it may seem expansive for me to call attention to Tom (who was neither a lawyer, nor particularly interested in the sometimes-narrow constraints of “disputes” as they are commonly conceived.) Tom worked in the field, on several continents, often in contexts in which the law was, at best, only one of the relevant factors. He was helpfully impatient, aggravatingly optimistic, and resolutely public-minded without ever failing to understand the real world incentives and constraints involved.  On a personal level, he provided me with some of the most formative, direct (often unflattering) feedback on my professional endeavors I ever received. And once in a while, he sought my counsel, which reliably intimidated me. I am grateful to have known and worked with Tom.

His obituary appears here: https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/thomas-schaub-1091813235

Like the best obituaries, written about the best lives well lived, reading it is an uplifting experience.

MM