Vincent Joseph Samar, son of George E. and Harriett H. (Bejnarowicz) Samar died from heart complications on Dec. 29, 2024. He was 71 years old.
Vince was born in Syracuse, New York on Feb. 12, 1953, receiving his primary education at Cathedral Academy, then secondary education at Lincoln Junior High. He graduated from William Nottingham High School in 1971. In 1975, he received a BA degree from Syracuse University (SU), majoring in political science. Three years later, he obtained joint JD/MPA degrees from the SU Law School and its Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Vince next moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago, receiving a PhD in philosophy in 1985 with an emphasis on Philosophy of law and ethics. Much later, in 2005, he attended Harvard Law School, where he received an LLM focusing on human rights and constitutional theory.
Throughout most of his time in Chicago, Vince was an LGBTQ+ activist, testifying before city and county committees to get increased AIDS funding and passage of the Chicago Human Rights ordinance (which passed in December, 1988). He was an ongoing member of Lambda Legal, a national organization that serves to protect the legal rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people and those who have been infected by AIDS.
Vince also served three years on the board of the Chicago chapter of the ACLU, as well as the board of Dignity Chicago, which at the time was removed from Catholic church property. In 1991, Vince ran for alderman in the 46th Ward. He forced a runoff between two other contenders and was, at the time, only the second openly gay person to ever seek that position.
His professional credentials included being a member of the New York and Illinois state bars, including their respective federal court bars, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Vince taught law at the Chicago-Kent College of Law and philosophy at Oakton Community College, both for 16 years. Two earlier appointments included teaching philosophy at St. Xavier College and Roosevelt University, both in Chicago, and a fun class in Ballroom Dance at the University of Chicago, which he started as a graduate student and continued to teach for 15 years.
Vince’s most recent appointments included teaching philosophy at Loyola University Chicago and jurisprudence (philosophy of law) at Loyola University Chicago Law School.
Vince published two books, The Right to Privacy: Gays, Lesbians and the Constitution (1991) and Justifying Judgment: Practicing Law and Philosophy (1999), and edited New York Times, 20th Century in Review: Gay Rights Movement (2001). He also published four chapters in books on law and human rights, and more than 38 articles, most of which appeared in law reviews on topics concerning human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, international law and constitutional theory.
Vince gave many interviews to the media, including one on the PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer in July 2003. He also gave presentations for various professional organizations, including the American Philosophical Association, as well as at the annually sponsored Loyola University Law School Constitutional Law Colloquium.
Final arrangements are still pending. Donations in his memory may given to Lambda Legal (Chicago or New York City offices), ACLU (Chicago office), or DignityUSA (Boston).