Professor Emeritus John Flackett, who made a lasting impact at Boston College Law School, passed away on November 9. Flackett started at BC Law School in 1968, first teaching Torts; Criminal Law; Mental Health Law; and Law, Values, and Professional Identity. By the time of his retirement in 2001, he had also served as associate dean and director of international programs.
His contributions as a teacher and leader were widely respected and were enhanced in the minds of colleagues by his compassion. “Everything we have today had its origins in his hard work and excellent judgment. He was a true friend of the school, and to so many of us,” said Professor Emeritus Daniel Coquillette.
Born and educated in England, Flackett received his undergraduate degrees from Birmingham University and Cambridge University, and went on to complete his LLM from the University of Pennsylvania after coming to the US on a Fulbright Scholarship. He devoted his professional life to advocating for the underrepresented, whether it be by sleeping in prisons in solidarity with inmates or advocating for civil rights in the American South.
In 2006 at the age of seventy, Flackett came out of retirement to run for office in New Hampshire, vying for a seat as a Democratic State Representative in District 13, Rockingham County. After a thirty-three-year tenure at BC Law, it was fitting that he spoke up on not only the importance of quality education, but the need for community engagement. “I want to run for office because in addition to having the time to seek office, I love listening to people and hearing what [is] on people’s minds and also what issues are troubling them,” Flackett said in an interview for a local newspaper.
Flackett is survived by his wife, Joanne; his children Jennifer, Antony, Rachel, and Charles; his first wife, Gail; his son-in-law, Mark; his daughters-in-law, Sabrina and Kerrilyn; and his five grandchildren, Franny, Finn, Dashiell, Clio, and Ronan.
A memorial service will be held on November 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Chapel at Boston College Law School in Newton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the NAACP, Boston College Law School, the National Immigration Law Center, or the Nature Conservancy. More information can be found in his obituary here.
Remembrances from Colleagues
“It was John who initiated the process of my coming to BC. It was the accident of our having adjoining offices at the U. Penn Law School one summer in the late ’60’s that got us together. What a charmer and intelligent guy! We were suddenly like old friends, chatting away over lunch or chance meetings in the hall about one interesting thing or another. I remember in particular many discussions about Arlen Specter’s Warren Commission Report about the Kennedy assassination.” — Professor Emeritus Charles “Buzzy” Baron
John was associate dean when I was a BC Law student. During my first two years of law school my father, who lived in St. Louis, was dying of cancer and I was struggling with how to be present as a law student and see my father as much as possible during his final years. John saved me…literally. I met with him and he offered support in his words and actions. He made it possible for me to go home at the end of classes and take exams when I returned the next semester, giving me months with my father that I would not otherwise have had. He was so kind to my younger self…just as he was to me later on when we were colleagues.” — Clinical Professor Emerita Francine Sherman ’80
“John Flackett was already the associate dean when I was a student at BC Law from 1975 to 1978. He was very high profile at the school; we all knew him. I am grateful for all that he did for the students of my generation and for all the other generations of students that followed. My prayerful sympathies go out to his family and friends.” — Chaplain Emeritus Fred Enman, SJ, ’78
“John Flackett walked the halls with a bounce in his step and a welcoming manner, seeking to create the positive and supportive community that is the hallmark of BC Law School. He had a keen but kind wit and helped put challenging subjects into perspective.
“John and Cynthia Lichtenstein started our London program, which migrated to Dublin just after Brexit. They created a program that integrated externships and a seminar and brought a deep commitment to international perspectives. Hundreds of students have studied at the BC Law School London and Dublin programs because of his vision.” — Professor Emerita Judith McMorrow