It is with deep sadness that we share news of the unexpected passing of Professor John A. Humbach, a cherished colleague and beloved teacher to generations of students at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.
Professor Humbach joined the Pace Law faculty in 1977 - just one year after our founding - following prior teaching appointments at Fordham Law School and Brooklyn Law School, as well as practice in corporate and securities law on Wall Street. He served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1982 to 1990 and, over nearly five decades, taught a wide range of courses including Property; Professional Responsibility; Criminal Law and Writing; Contracts; Corporations; Land Use; and Law and Economics.
His scholarship focused on property law and professional responsibility, as well as the implications of modern neuroscience for criminal law and justice. He served as the James D. Hopkins Professor of Law Memorial Chair from 1993 to 1995, during which he presented his scholarship on "Property Rights, Takings, and Justice in a Democracy" to the academic community. Demonstrating his commitment to innovative teaching, Professor Humbach developed publicly available computer-assisted instruction tutorials on the Estate System and Future Interests, which have benefited countless first-year property students.
Over the course of his career, he was also actively involved in numerous committees and organizations dedicated to land use, conservation, and economic development at the local, regional, and national levels. His service included the New York State Forest Preserve Advisory Committee, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, and the Sterling Forest Coalition, where he served as President from 1988 to 1994.
We were privileged to have Professor Humbach as a member of our faculty from nearly the very beginning of our school’s history. His intellect, generosity, and unwavering dedication to his students and colleagues have left an indelible mark on our community.
Professor Humbach is survived by his wife Eva, and three children, including Thomas, a graduate of the Class of 1993.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025 from 4:00p.m.-7:00p.m. at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott St., Cold Spring, NY 10516, followed by a gathering to celebrate his extraordinary legacy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sterling Forest Coalition or the Pace | Haub Law Environmental Law Program in Professor Humbach's name.
Read more about Professor Humbach's life and legacy, share a memory or send condolences online.
