“Professor Rice was a warrior for God in the truest and noblest sense. He possessed a unique combination of strength and humility. And while humble, he was a man of great achievement. He touched the lives of so many people in a profound and holy way. He was a self-less and generous man. And everything he did was for God’s glory. There is little doubt that upon his passing, he was greeted with the words, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’ And so I bid farewell to my mentor–a Marine who will assume his post guarding the streets of heaven. Semper Fi!
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.”
– Robert J. Muise, Co-Founder & Senior Counsel
Charles E. Rice (1931-2015) was Professor Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame Law School. His areas of specialization were constitutional law and jurisprudence. He recently taught “Law and Morality” at Notre Dame. He passed from this life on February 25, 2015. May he rest in peace.
Professor Rice was born in 1931, received a B.A. degree from the College of the Holy Cross, a J.D., from Boston College Law School and an LL.M. and J.S.D. from New York University. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was a Lt. Col. in the Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.). He practiced law in New York City and taught at New York University Law School and Fordham Law School before joining, in 1969, the faculty of law at Notre Dame. He served for eight years as State Vice-Chairman of the New York State Conservative Party.
From 1981 to 1993, Professor Rice was a member of the Education Appeal Board of the U.S. Department of Education. He served as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and to various Congressional committees on constitutional issues and was an editor of the American Journal of Jurisprudence.
His continuing 13-part series, The Good Code: The Natural Law is available from the Eternal Word Television Network. Among his books are Freedom of Association; The Supreme Court and Public Prayer, The Vanishing Right to Live;Authority and Rebellion; Beyond Abortion: The Theory and Practice of the Secular State; No Exception: A Pro-Life Imperative; 50 Questions on the Natural Law; and The Winning Side: Questions on Living the Culture of Life. His latest books are Where Did I Come From? Where Am I Going? How Do I Get There?, (2nd ed.) co-authored with Dr. Theresa Farnan, and What Happened to Notre Dame?, both published by St. Augustine’s Press in 2009.
He was a faculty advisor and assistant coach of the Notre Dame Boxing Club. He is survived by his wife, Mary, ten children, and many grandchildren. He resided in Mishawaka, Indiana.
We will always be indebted to Professor Rice for his willingness to serve as an AFLC Board Member. He was, in many respects, a plank holder. As a supporter of AFLC, Professor Rice graciously provided the following endorsement of our work:
“Robert Muise is a 1997 graduate of Notre Dame Law School with a distinguished Marine Corps career. And David Yerushalmi is an experienced and seasoned litigator. I have come to rely with the utmost confidence on them and the American Freedom Law Center for expert analysis and diligent action in defense and promotion of freedom under the rule of law. They know what they are doing. And they fight for what is right.”