David Bederman ’83

David died Dec. 4, 2011, of complications from appendix cancer.

At Princeton, David was a member of Quadrangle Club, president of Whig-Clio, and secretary general of the Model UN Conference. He also was on the men’s fencing team, fencing foil under coach Stan Sieja. After graduation, David received a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, a law degree from the University of Virginia, a diploma from The Hague Academy of International Law, and a Ph.D. at the University of London.

David worked at the firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., and as a legal adviser at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal at The Hague, eventually becoming the K.H. Gyr Professor in Private International Law at Emory University. He published many articles and books.

David argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and held distinguished visiting professorships at NYU, the University of Toronto, and the University of Virginia. He was one of the world’s few experts on the laws surrounding shipwrecks. His contributions as a scholar, teacher, and guide are commemorated at the annual David Bederman lecture at Emory Law School.

Sympathy from the class goes to his wife, Lorre Cuzze; daughter Annelise; and his parents, Dr. Sanford and Jolayne Bederman.