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Friday, February 7, 1997

FACULTY:

Eule's zest for life touched his students, colleagues and familyBy J. Sharon Yee

Daily Bruin Contributor

UCLA's School of Law suffered a tremendous loss last week with the death of a highly valued and well-respected professor. Julian Eule, a professor at UCLA since 1984 and associate dean from 1992-1995, died on Jan. 30 of cancer at age 47.

"He was a world-class teacher ­ everyone's favorite professor," said Jonathan Varat, a fellow professor at the law school and also Eule's best friend.

"He was incredibly energetic and touched everybody he met," he added.

Varat met Eule in 1983 after discovering that they had simultaneously written articles about the same subject in completely separate law journals. They later agreed to discuss a possible job opportunity at UCLA, where Varat was a professor. But what was intended as a one-hour job interview quickly became a three-hour conversation about a variety of issues, which eventually grew into a close friendship.

Prior to coming to UCLA, Eule studied as an undergraduate at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, earned his law degree at Cornell University in 1973, and eventually a Masters of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1977.

Upon completing his education, he practiced law for Shearman and Sterling law firm in New York and served as legal counsel to then-Connecticut Gov. Thomas Meskill, who is currently a Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals judge. From 1977 to 1984, he taught and served as associate dean at Temple University Law School in Philadelphia, Penn.

Perhaps one of Eule's most notable and memorable characteristics was the incredible amount of energy and vitality he often expressed in his everyday life.

"He had the most infectious sense of humor ... and was incredibly energetic," said Varat.

Former students also say they were greatly affected and inspired by Eule. Most recently, he taught constitutional law and appellate advocacy classes.

"He was a fantastic lecturer (and) kept the class really lively," said Holly Paul, a 1991graduate who took Eule's constitutional law classes as a UCLA student. She also said she was inspired to focus her work in appellate law because of his influence.

Others praised his diligence and persistence in encouraging reform in constitutional law and the California Initiative Process, emphasizing his most recent efforts on reinterpreting the commerce clause of the Constitution.

"He was very sensitive about constitutional law issues ... he wasn't an esoteric professor, but more interested in practicality," said Braden Penhoet, a 1995 graduate who worked as his research assistant and is now a corporate attorney for the Brobeck, Phleger, and Harrison law firm in downtown Los Angeles.

"Put simply, he was a timely and thoughtful scholar," Penhoet added.

Eule's ability to connect with his students earned him both the law school's Rutter Award for Excellence in Teaching and Professor of the Year in 1988. He was again named Professor of the Year in 1990 and 1992.

Eule routinely had lunch with his students, stayed after lectures to discuss issues and, according to students, would literally spend hours debating with them about anything.

"He didn't mind if someone disagreed with him, but he wanted to know why. He wanted to be open about it," Varat said.

Eule's constant optimism and zest for life was also apparent at home. After overcoming Hodgkin's disease in 1984, he began to look at life in a very different way, showing great enthusiasm towards it, said family members.

"He knew what was important in life and what wasn't ... and (in this way) he taught me the true value of life," said Brian Eule, his son, a high school senior.

After losing his own father at a young age, Julian Eule realized the importance of being a supportive and loving father to his own children. Even after long days at work, he would come home and still have energy for them, his son said. In addition to encouraging their schoolwork and activities, Eule emphasized the importance of saying "good night" and "I love you" at bedtime, no matter what the circumstances of the day might have been.

"I don't remember one night going to bed without saying 'Good night,'" said Brian Eule, stating that his father's reason for doing this was a story he had heard about a son who went to bed angry at his father, and during the night, the father passed away without truly knowing that the son loved him. Julian Eule did not want this to happen to his family.

A native of New York and a great sports enthusiast, Eule was a huge Mets fan. To show his loyalty, he made it an annual tradition to wear his Mets uniform ­ an original ­ to classes for an entire day. After deciding to teach at UCLA, he and some of his students drove across the country (while his family flew), making it a point to visit every baseball stadium possible along the way.

When diagnosed with cancer last summer, Eule confronted his disease with courage and optimism.

"He was an incredible fighter because (having overcome Hodgkin's disease), he valued life so much," his son said.

Eule demonstrated his concern for others by voluntarily teaching at the UCLA Medical School because he felt it was important to teach doctors about his disease from the perspective of a patient.

Because he could not stand to see others in pain or upset: "When he got sick, he was happy it happened to him instead of his family," Brian Eule said.

His unselfish ways will also be missed in his professional life.

"The UCLA Law School has experienced a tremendous loss ... (current students) have been deprived of an excellent teacher," Paul reflected. "Of course, they'll continue on, but they're just going to have one less terrific professor."

A funeral service, with over 200 people in attendance, was held Sunday at Hillside Memorial Park in West Los Angeles. Commenting on how Eule's funeral brought together a significant part of the law school community, Penhoet said, "He was such an integral part of the law school ... he was really a big part of the glue of the school."

Brian Eule suggested that despite his untimely death, Julian Eule would not have regretted any part of his life.

"He considered the last 14 years of his life his best ones," he said.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Julian Eule Memorial fund, in care of UCLA School of Law, Office of the Dean, Box 951476, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Julian Eule taught at the UCLA School of Law since 1984. Cancer took his life Jan. 30.