When news of Kevin Curtin’s death from a heart attack on December 10 reached Boston College Law School, the community responded with an outpouring of stories and remembrances. As Professor George Brown said of the senior appellate counsel and grand jury director for the Middlesex District Attorney and adjunct professor, “Kevin lit up a class. When discussion lagged, as it sometimes does, he would pick up the thread and lead us all, sometimes in new directions. It was a joy to be his teacher and his friend.”
A graduate of the class of 1988, Curtin’s ties to the Law School were longstanding. The BC Law Curtin Center for Public Interest Law is named for his father, John “Jack” Jr. ’57, and mother, Mary Daly. As a former President of the Alumni Board, active volunteer, and adjunct professor, he quickly came running, full of kindness and ideas, when called upon by a student, professor, or staff member for assistance.
“He was so steady and always helped out. His well of generosity and support on a personal level, and on a wider community level, for BC and for our profession, was endless,” said Professor Evangeline Sarda. “And his voice, his gaze, and his presence—you felt he was always right there with you.”
In his career, Curtin served as a judicial clerk for US District Court Judge William G. Young; a teacher at Boston College, University of Virginia, and Harvard law schools; a law reform consultant to the Republic of Uzbekistan; a vice chair of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Council; and won prizes like the ABA Norm Maleng Minister of Justice Award.
To many in his personal and professional circles, he was without peer. “Kevin represented the absolute best of us,” said Professor Daniel Kanstroom. And, added Associate Dean Heather Hayes: “His light clearly lives on in all of us.”