Dr. Robert A. Sedler's passing at the age of 89

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Academy of Scholars member Dr. Bob Sedler. The following obituary is from the Dorfman Chapel. Details can be found at Dr. Robert A Sedler, Dorfman Chapel.

Robert Allen Sedler was born on September 11, 1935, to Esther and Jerry Sedler in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Robert graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, where he was president of the Student Government Association and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1959, where he was on the law review and a member of the Order of the Coif.

Bob and Rozanne met at the University of Pittsburgh in 1958, and thus began a partnership and love affair that lasted 65 years.

After Bob received his law degree, he was determined to become a law professor.

In 1963, under the auspices of the Ford Foundation, Bob and Rozanne moved to Ethiopia, where Bob worked to establish the first law school in the country. They stayed in Ethiopia for three years.

In 1966, Bob and Rozanne moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where Bob was on the faculty of the University of Kentucky Law School for nine years. It was there that their two children—Eric and Beth—were born.

In 1977, Bob joined the faculty of Wayne State Law School, where he taught Constitutional Law and Conflicts of Law for 44 years. He retired in 2020 at the age of 85 as a Distinguished Professor of Law. In October 2024, Bob was selected to be honored on the Wayne State Law School Wall of Fame.

Bob published numerous articles, books, and law review papers during his tenure as a law professor.

The Robert Allen Sedler Scholarship was established to be awarded to a student with a particular interest in Constitutional Law.

Bob believed that the purpose of the law was to help people. Therefore, he also wanted to argue cases on constitutional issues. Over the course of his 60-year legal career, he argued many cases, including two before the United States Supreme Court in 1970 and 1974, prevailing in both.

Bob and Rozanne joined Temple Emanuel the year they arrived in Detroit. Bob was active in the temple, serving on its board and on the Social Action Commission of Reform Judaism. While on the board, Bob drafted a constitution for the temple and served six years on the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism.

Family was everything to Bob. Eric and his wife, Marla, have two children—Braden and Chloe. Beth and her husband, Tom, have two children—Brielle and Jayce. Bob was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren. He loved spending time with them and seeing his grandchildren grow into the young adults they are today.

Beloved husband of Rozanne Sedler. Dear father of Eric (Marla) Sedler and Beth (Thomas) Foster. Loving grandfather of Braden Sedler, Chloe Sedler, Brielle Foster and Jayce Foster. Devoted brother of the late Gloria (the late Norman) Zakowitz. Dearest uncle of Hilary (Michael) Daninhirsch. Also survived by many other loving family members and friends.