Obituary of Walter Patrick Loughlin

Walter Patrick Loughlin, known to family and friends as Pat, passed away on November 30, 2024 in Manhattan from cancer. He was a brilliant lawyer, law professor and public servant; a beloved and loving father, brother and friend; and an adventurous spirit who decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to celebrate his 60th birthday. He was born on September 21, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Lawrence Leo Loughlin and Mary Lou Loughlin. He graduated from Thomas Downey High in Modesto, California before attending UCLA where he was a member of the Varsity Water Polo Team that won both NCAA and AAU championships. Pat remained an avid Bruins fan for the rest of his life and sought to watch every football or basketball game. He went on to receive a law degree and a master's degree in political science from Yale University. While at Yale, he served as the Note Editor for the Yale Law Journal. Following graduation from Yale, Pat served as a Law Clerk for Judge Jon O. Newman, for the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. He subsequently served as a Law Clerk to Judge Walter R. Mansfield for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then became a visiting professor at the Fordham School of Law for two terms. He subsequently worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1979 to 1983 and served as the Chief Appellate Attorney in 1982 and 1983. After his work with the U.S. Attorney's office, Pat worked as an Associate Professor of Law at Rutgers University Law School from 1983 to 1989. During his tenure he took a leave of absence to assume the position of Director of the London Office of the Vera Institute for Justice where he consulted on speedy trial issues and the Crown Prosecution Service, among other things. He was a partner for ten years with Latham & Watkins LLP and then a partner with K & L Gates LLP for ten years. During that time, working pro bono, he helped free a wrongly accused man from death row, one of Pat's proudest accomplishments, for which he received the NY City Bar Association's Thurgood Marshall Award. During most of this time he was a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School. In spite of his long career practicing law, he was very dedicated to teaching law and many felt he truly was an educator at heart. His distinguished legal career also included the publication of the four-volume Modern Federal Jury Instructions which was originally published in 1984, authored by two Judges, Pat and other distinguished lawyers. In yet more public service, Pat was Associate Independent Counsel in the Iran-Contra prosecution in 1988-1990, in the Office of Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh, and was also Associate Independent Counsel in the Prosecution of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Michael K. Deaver in 1987-1989, in the Office of Independent Counsel Whitney North Seymour, Jr. Pat also committed his time to giving back. He served on the Board of several non-profit organizations including the National Center for Youth Law, the Fund for Modern Courts, and the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School. As Coordinator of the K&L Gates Pro Bono Program, he worked tirelessly to provide pro bono representation to victims of domestic violence through Her Justice and in recognition of that work, received the Commitment to Justice/Law Firm partner of the year award in 2016. Pat is survived by his three children, Eleanor Dunlap, Patrick Loughlin and Michael Loughlin (LeeAnn). He dearly loved each of them, treasured his time with them, and always enjoyed attending his children's sporting events, plays and other programs. He loved to regale his friends with their exploits. He is also survived by former wife, Ellen Farrell, mother of Eleanor Dunlap, and former wife, Catherine Woodman, mother of Patrick and Michael Loughlin. He is survived by four other siblings, Maura Carley (Jack), Michael Loughlin (Sarah), Daniel Loughlin, Claire Loughlin (Ken Israel), many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Two siblings, Katherine Loughlin and Terence Loughin predeceased him. Pat was a serious cook, loved fine dining, loved to travel, and loved everything relating to French cuisine and culture. Everyone who knew Pat was saddened by the extent of his physical limitations after his stroke in 2022 but he never complained. He will be missed by all. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 374 Middlesex Avenue, Darien, Connecticut.