VICE President

IN MEMORIAM OF CO-FOUNDER RICHARD L. OTTINGER

Professor Richard L. Ottinger was Dean Emeritus of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. He served in the United States House of Representatives for eight terms, from 1965 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1984, and joined the Elisabeth Haub School of Law when he retired from Congress. As a professor, he taught in the environmental law program from 1984–94, and he served as Dean from 1994–99.

During his term as Dean, he raised funds for the construction of a new modern classroom building, which was later dedicated as Richard Ottinger Hall in 2013. He also was responsible for bringing to Pace the New York State Judicial Training Institute. As Dean, he established the Law School Board of Advisors, the annual fundraising dinner, and the Practice program. Dean Emeritus Ottinger was co-director of the Pace Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies. He founded the Pace Energy & Climate Center, which advocates for climate change mitigation and promotion of clean energy resources. In his 16 years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he authored a substantial body of energy and environmental laws.
He was one of the earliest environmentalists in Congress in 1965. As chairman of the Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, he was instrumental in adopting key energy and environmental legislation. Dean Emeritus Ottinger was a founding staff member of the Peace Corps, serving it during 1961–1964.
 

The Consortium for Ecological Law pays tribute to Prof. Richard L. Ottinger, who founded the Consortium and served as its Vice President until his death in his 98th year, on 16 February 2026. We invite you to visit Pace University as it celebrates his life at this website: https://www.pace.edu/law/dean-emeritus-richard-l-ottinger-1929-2026.

 

The Consortium organized a conference in Belem for the UN Climate Summit, COP30, last October. There, online, Dick Ottinger delivered a spirited call for energy law reform and climate sanity. This Pace website provides the link to his message. His years at Pace University’s Haub Law School followed his election to serve in the US House of Representatives, repeatedly for 16 years. His legislation helped provide the foundations for Ecological Law. The Consortium rededicates itself to carrying on his mission. We extend our condolences to the Ottinger family. We are inspired by his exemplary lifetime of care and concern for our shared future.

 

The Consortium for Ecological Law inaugurated its first newsletter with tribute to Prof. Richard L. Ottinger. See:
https://ecologicalaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CELnewsletterVol1Issue1Spring2-17-2026.pdf
 

Honors & Awards:
Founder and Chair Emeritus, Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Founding Board Member of Friends of the Earth
Editor-in-Chief, UNEP Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Laws
Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy, American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, 1974

 

Education:
BA, Cornell University
LLB, Harvard Law School