Laurence F. Jay ’67

Larry died Feb. 17, 2020, in Los Angeles of complications of diabetes.

He grew up in New York City and graduated from the Horace Mann School, where he was co-editor of the yearbook, vice president of glee club, editor of the school newspaper, and member of the Cum Laude Society. At Princeton, Larry majored in the Woodrow Wilson School, was advised by Professor Richard Falk, lived at 212 Foulke Hall with Doug Clark and Fred Waite, belonged to Cloister Inn and the Pre-Law Society, and was assistant editor/features writer for The Daily Princetonian.

His career goal at graduation was international law and organizations, influenced by Professor Falk. In 1969, Larry spent a year studying at the Hague Academy of International Law before graduating from Harvard Law in 1970. He moved to Los Angeles, clerking for a federal District Court judge, and then joined the influential LA firm of Ball, Hunt, Hart, Brown, & Baerwitz. He described his early celebrated trial cases in our 50th-reunion yearbook. Due to his scholarly intellect, writing talent, and photographic memory, he was recruited by the California court system and served 23 years as attorney for the California Second District Court of Appeal. He co-authored books on criminal appeal procedure and law, and researched and wrote decisions for the judges. He was a person of great integrity and dedication to truth, justice, and the rule of law.

Larry served many years recruiting top students for Princeton admissions, and for a program called the Appellate Court Experience. After retirement, he participated in the Plato Society of LA and read voraciously, able to pursue interests his work had precluded.

Larry is survived by his wife, Cheryl Silver; brother Roger; and niece Ariel.