The ACLU of Missouri mourns the passing of former General Counsel Don Wolff. Current Board President, Brad Pierce, served with Mr. Wolff and shares these thoughts:
REMEBRANCES OF DON WOLFF – AUTHENTIC CIVIL LIBERTIES AND JAZZ HERO
When I first joined the Board of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri, back in the late ‘80s, and was the new kid on the block, Don Wolff was already a legend: an outstanding lawyer and champion of civil rights and civil liberties. Some folks referred to him as “The Lion.” And he was. As our general counsel, he was always available and ready to advise us, provide guidance, and to jump right in when needed, whether it was just a phone call or letter to the “right person,” or to represent our clients in court. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the organization and our mission, in 1998, we presented Don with the Affiliate’s Civil Liberties Award.
I was also very impressed with Don’s appreciation for and his dedication to Jazz as a true American art form. There were many late nights I spent listening to his “I Love Jazz” show on the various radio venues and media platforms over the years. And just a few months ago he was named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association as one who was an advocate, altruist, and an “aider and abettor” of jazz who had a “significant impact” in his local community.
Don is someone we will always remember and admire, not only for his fine legal work, but also for his unmatched compassion for the underdog and as a fierce defender of the Bill of Rights. He truly was – and remains – an authentic Civil Liberties and Jazz Hero.