Maine Law dedicated the Edward S. Godfrey III Reading Room on June 11, honoring the founding dean whose vision, leadership, and commitment to legal education helped create Maine Law’s reputation for quality education, supportive community, and dedication to public service.
The dedication ceremony brought together alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the law school to celebrate Godfrey’s enduring legacy. The Godfrey Reading Room was made possible through the leadership and generosity of members of the Class of 1973, many of whom attended the event.
President and Dean Leigh Saufley reflected on Dean Godfrey’s extraordinary accomplishments in building a modern law school for the State of Maine.
“I’ve been reflecting on Dean Godfrey’s creation of a new law school in such a miraculously short period of time,” Saufley said. “He assembled everything necessary for an excellent law school and secured accreditation remarkably quickly. Many of the values that define Maine Law today—academic excellence, public service, and a strong sense of community—reflect the example Dean Godfrey set.”
Saufley noted that the Reading Room will serve as a lasting reminder of his impact.
“Every student who studies here will do so in a space that honors his vision, leadership, and enduring legacy,” she said. “We are grateful to the Class of 1973, which took the lead in raising funds for this room.”
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1913 and raised in Albany, New York, Godfrey distinguished himself as a scholar from an early age. He graduated from Harvard College, summa cum laude, in 1934 and earned his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1939. Following service in World War II, where he earned a Bronze Star while serving in General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in Manila, Godfrey built a distinguished career in legal education before being recruited by the University of Maine in 1962.
Tasked with creating a modern law school for the State, Godfrey recruited excellent full-time faculty, developed the curriculum, built the law library, and established the academic foundation of the institution. Under his leadership, Maine Law achieved accreditation from both the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools in remarkably short order.
Several alumni who knew Godfrey personally shared reflections during the ceremony, offering a portrait not only of a visionary dean and legal scholar, but also of a mentor, teacher, and friend.
Pat Maiorino ’73 recalled the profound influence Godfrey had on generations of students.
“I had a number of interesting experiences with the Dean, and one of them kept me in law school,” Maiorino said. “I always revered the gentleman that he was.”
Maiorino described Godfrey as someone whose impact extended far beyond his professional accomplishments.
“Those of us who knew Dean Godfrey know his impact extends beyond any title,” he added. “He was a mentor, a friend, and a person who genuinely cared about others. He believed education was not about earning degrees but unlocking potential and creating opportunities.”
Peter Mills ’73, highlighted Dean Godfrey’s determination during the law school’s formative years.
“He knew right away that his singular mission was to get this law school accredited,” Mills said, noting that Godfrey’s success in achieving that goal helped secure Maine Law’s future.
Greg Powell ‘80, helped bring Dean Godfrey’s personal support for his students and judicial colleagues to life.
“Ed was a friend and mentor,” Powell said. “He lived many lives of accomplishment before he even got here.”
Powell recalled applying for a clerkship with Godfrey and later serving as his law clerk. He remembered Godfrey’s sharp intellect, dry wit, and distinctive personality.
“He had an air of endearing grumpiness about him,” Powell added. “My life was enriched beyond words by his intellect, humor, and love for me and my family.”
Jay Theise ’70, eloquently captured the lasting impact Godfrey had on his students and colleagues.
“His mission in life was to help us find greatness in ourselves,” Theise said.
Derry Rundlett ‘73 captured Dean Godfrey’s sense of humor, which, when juxtaposed against the Dean’s intellectual rigor and insistence on the importance of lifelong learning, demonstrated the depth of the renaissance man who created Maine Law.
That theme echoed throughout the evening as speakers reflected on a man whose greatest legacy goes beyond the institution he built, to the many people he inspired.
The Edward S. Godfrey III Reading Room now stands as a permanent tribute to the founding Dean’s belief in scholarship, community, and the transformative power of legal education.
