Earlier this week, I posted the first part of our tribute to Michele Bridges, our former Executive Director, featuring former Federal Circuit Chief Judge Michel and former Center Director Richard Gruner: https://bit.ly/3aug7PB. During her time with us, Michele touched many other lives, including those of students, adjuncts, and partners both in the U.S. and abroad. A few wrote to us. With their permission, I am pleased to share their tributes:

“I’m so very sorry to hear the news about Michele Bridges. I worked with her as an adjunct professor at JMLS from 2002-2012. She was wonderful to work with and very dedicated to JMLS’s students and the IP program.” – Vicki Allums, Adjunct Faculty & DAU Learning Director for Intellectual Property, Department of Defense

“Michelle was a treasure. She was the administrative person for the ABA Intellectual Property Law Section for many years. My law partners Jim Sweeney, Bill Lee and Tom Smith, the latter two being past Chairs of the Section, had worked with Michelle in that capacity. When Jim became Director of the John Marshall Center for Intellectual Property Law and needed an assistant Michelle was an obvious choice. The rest is history.” – David Brezina, Adjunct Faculty & Of Counsel, Ladas & Parry LLP

“Very sad news. I worked with Michele when I was a committee chair and board member of the ABA IPL Section, then later at JMLS beginning in 2000. She was VERY kind, competent, able and positive. A serious loss for our profession.” – James Forstner, Advisory Board Member & Of Counsel, Kuhnen & Wacker

“We were very saddened to receive the e-mail below regarding the passing of Michele Bridges. It was a true pleasure to work with her in connection with our IP Seminar at JMLS for many years, and we also remember her as a very competent, friendly and great person. Our thoughts are with Michele’s family in this difficult time.” – Ingrid Jahr, Management Assistant, Trademark Administrator, Seminar Coordinator, Kuhnen & Wacker

“Oh, how very sad. Michelle always was welcoming and helpful. Her enthusiasm for JMLS and the Center was encouraging. I especially remember her at our social events including one Holiday Party where she gave me a poinsettia but suggested I cab it back to the office. I walked instead and yes the plant died!” – Alice Martin, Advisory Board Member & Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

“She was a great person and an invaluable resource to the school and the IP law program.” – Kevin Noonan, Adjunct Faculty & Partner, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

“I remember Michele Bridges very well and very fondly. We first met when she was at the American Bar Association and I was more active there. We would do portions of the Chicago Bar Association’s annual Christmas Spirits show, of which I was the director, during the ABA’s annual meetings, and she was instrumental in helping with some very complicated arrangements. I was already a part of JMLS’s Adjunct Faculty when she moved over to the law school, and not only was she helpful to me here, but we shared some very good memories. She was missed from the moment she retired from JMLS, and she will continue to be missed.” – E. Leonard Rubin, Adjunct Faculty & Principal Counsel, LRubinLaw