Western mourns the death of W. R. Poole
June 04, 2014
The Western Law community is mourning the death of William R. (Bill) Poole, a former distinguished adjunct law professor, who died Sunday, May 25 at age 96.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Geddes Poole, C.M., daughter Andrea Geddes Poole and granddaughter Caroline Laurier Geddes Poole.
The family will receive friends at the London Club, 177 Queens Ave. on Wednesday, June 25, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Poole was a graduate of the University of Manitoba and attended the London School of Economics. With the arrival of WW2, Poole returned to Canada and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
He earned his Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and practiced in the London, Ontario-based law firm of Poole, Bell & Porter.
A highly respected criminal lawyer and much-admired teacher, Poole’s impressive legal career spanned more than 50 years.
Poole was appointed to the Law Reform Commission of Canada by Ontario Premier John Robarts, and served on the Commission from 1964 to 1985. He received an Honorary Queen's Counsel distinction in 1961.
Poole taught Criminal Law at Western’s Faculty of Law from 1964 to 1972.
In 2010, Western Law Alumni from his classes honoured their friend, mentor and esteemed professor by establishing the W.R. Poole Q.C. Bar Fellowship.
The Fellowship enables Western Law students to spend time at the Inns of Court in London, England.
"Bill instilled in his students a sense of romance with the law," recalled former student John Eberhard, Q.C. '69. “Each of us was influenced by his skills his intellect and his caring. His love of the law, imparted to many classes, remains a cherished memory and an on-going inspiration.”
In memory of W.R. Poole, Q.C., donations may be made to the W.R. Poole, Q.C. Bar Fellowship, Attn. Michelle Bothwell, Faculty of Law, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 3K7.
