Professor Henry P. Monaghan, 1934-2025

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues, 

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Professor Henry P. Monaghan, an extraordinarily distinguished scholar and a member of the Columbia Law School faculty for more than 40 years, passed away at his home yesterday at the age of 90. His retirement became official just one day prior, on December 31, 2024. 

During a prolific career that spanned nearly seven decades, Henry was a singular force—as a scholar, a teacher, and a mentor. His work in the fields of Federal Courts and Constitutional Law was deeply analytical and influential, and his views were often sought after by leading scholars and judges alike. As the unofficial dean of Columbia’s public law faculty, he mentored and supported generations of early- and mid-career professors, convened a highly popular summer workshop series, and always made time to read and provide feedback on his colleagues’ work. 

Henry was honored many times over, including with multiple conferences and symposia dedicated to his scholarship. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and, in 2017, he was selected as an inaugural recipient of the Daniel J. Meltzer Award for excellence in legal education by the Federal Court Section of the Association of American Law Schools. He was also awarded the Law School’s Medal for Excellence in 2010. 

A native of Massachusetts, Henry earned an associate’s degree from Holyoke Junior College in 1953 before transferring to the University of Massachusetts, where he received a B.A. in government in 1955. He then earned an LL.B. from Yale Law School and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School. Henry clerked for Judge Morris Ames Soper on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit and practiced briefly at Foley, Hoag, & Eliot in Boston before entering academia. He spent nearly 20 years on the faculties of Boston University School of Law and Cornell Law School before joining Columbia’s faculty in 1983. In 1987, he was named Harlan Fiske Stone Professor of Constitutional Law. 

I was fortunate to have had the chance to visit with Henry and his wife, Nancy Hengen, at their home just a few weeks ago. During our conversation, Henry reflected on his time at Columbia with great joy and appreciation. It was clear that he held great affinity for the institution and the people that comprise it, and it is a memory that I will cherish and take with me.  

In addition to Nancy, Henry is survived by his son, Brendan (and son-in-law Mark), his sister, Mary McKenna, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. We will publish a full obituary on our website in the coming days, and hope to organize a memorial at the Law School in due course. 

Please join me in expressing our condolences to Henry’s loved ones, colleagues, and friends as we mourn this great loss for our community. 

Sincerely,
Daniel Abebe
Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law