Dr. Robert L. Cord Memorial Archive
Robert L. Cord passed away on August 30, 2022. As the Matthews Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University for over 30 years, Dr. Cord was a pioneering scholar in Constitutional Law who had a transformative impact on the lives and the careers of many of his students. A leading national authority on the Establishment Clause, his research and writing elevated and enriched the learning experiences of his students.
We invite you to celebrate Professor Cord’s life in these ways:
● Submitting a testimonial for Professor Cord’s Online Memorial Archive (featured below) at [email protected].
● Consider donating to the Robert L. Cord Endowed Book Fund at Northeastern University in his honor to continue his legacy in helping students.
Submit a Testimonial
Tributes
Raymond B. Ludwiszewski, Class of ’81
I met Professor Cord on my second day of on-campus freshman orientation. His liberal political views and my conservative political philosophy clashed dramatically at a cocktail party to welcome incoming freshmen, and I foolishly engaged him in an hourlong debate in front of an amused audience of new students.
Brent J. Bass, Esq., Class of ’92
The recent passing of Dr. Robert Lewis Cord will no doubt set off reflections and memories for many Northeastern alumni, former colleagues, and friends. Professor Cord’s legacy will be defined by his impact upon and everlasting connection to his students, small and large alike, and the university he called
Michael McQuade, Class of ’80, ’82
Dr. Cord was my Constitutional Law professor during my senior year at NU, and in all of my years of schooling, right through graduate school, he was by far the best teacher that I ever had. He made it his mission to ensure that all of his students were
Phil Cunningham, Class of ’72
I was a student of Professor Cord’s as a freshman in the fall of 1967, taking his Intro to American Government class, and later as an upperclassman I took his Constitutional Law class. It has since occurred to me how fortunate I was to have in Professor Cord, a
Bill Grossi, Class of ’09, ’12
Although I never had the chance to experience what it was like to sit through a lecture orchestrated by Dr. Robert Cord, I had the honor of being Bob’s closest friend for the last 17 years of his life. Over these years of friendship, we spent countless hours together,
Stefan Nathanson, Class of ’88
I was asked to write a few words about Robert Cord, and it is my honor to do so. I had the privilege of knowing Robert (“Bob”) Cord on several levels: first as my professor for his Constitutional Law class and his Law Personal Morality class in 1987 and
Paula Haley, Class of ’81
I knew Professor Robert Cord from the time I was eight years old and my father, Charles F. Haley, first brought him home for dinner with our family. My father was a Professor of Education and later Associate Dean of the College of Education which then became Bouvé College.