Dear Fellows,

We received the sad news that Class VI Fellow Professor Walter Taggart passed away on October 29, 2024. A funeral mass is scheduled for Monday, November 25th, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Thomas Villanova Chapel at Villanova University outside of Philadelphia, with reception afterwards at the Villanova Inn.

Early in his career, Walt clerked for the Honorable John P. Fullam of the United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and later served as his special assistant while Judge Fullam presided over the Penn Central bankruptcy case, among the largest ever for its time. Walt then served for many years as a professor at Villanova Law School teaching, among other things, courses on bankruptcy.

Among the many reactions to Walter’s passing include College Fellow Joe Dworetzky who said, “I had Wally at Villanova for Fed Courts and he was fantastic. He’d spin up an idea that didn’t make any sense and you’d be dismissing it mentally when you remembered who it was coming from and so you’d lean into the idea again and realize it was brilliant. His passing is a big loss.”

Fellow Michael Bloom observed, “As Joe intimated, he was both demanding and brilliant. But I knew Walter best, and for more than four decades, as a (highly) competitive long distance runner. He was a rock-solid person who cared deeply about his pedagogy, but even more so about his students. A true friend and colleague. “

Fellow Judge Jeffrey Deller noted that, “I reflect on the passing of Walter J. Taggart, a towering figure in the world of bankruptcy law and an esteemed member of our legal community. Walter’s dedication to legal education and his lifelong commitment to the advancement of bankruptcy principles have left an indelible mark on the system and all of us who had the privilege to know him. As a scholar and mentor, Walter was relentless in his pursuit of truth and fairness, embodying the spirit of bankruptcy law as a vehicle for renewal and a second chance.”

Finally, Fellow Henry Sommer said, “I first got to know Walter over 40 years ago when he was working with the Bankruptcy Rules Advisory Committee on new rules to implement the 1978 Act. He was kind enough to put me (still a young lawyer) on several CLE panels at Villanova and also ALI-ABA programs in exotic places like Memphis and Jamestown, North Dakota - but also Park City, where we skied together. We worked together when he was a member of the Community Legal Services Board of Directors, on programs for the Conference, and on local rules. In all these activities, he showed his enormous commitment to public service. Truly a great loss.”

We are grateful to College Fellow, Bob Lapowsky, for preparing this tribute to Professor Taggart, and we offer our condolences to his friends, family, and colleagues.

CC Schnapp

Executive Director

ccschnapp@amercol.org