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Professor Robert C. Berry, a 25-year member of the Boston College Law School faculty who created the first sports law course in the country, died in Florida on Nov. 21. He was 75.
Professor Berry was a well-known expert in contracts and sports and entertainment law, and a frequent media commentator, appearing on “Larry King Live,” National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” ESPN and network news broadcasts and writing as a guest columnist for the New York Times, among other media outlets.
A consultant on salary arbitration issues with Major League Baseball and advisor to such big-name sports figures as Larry Bird, he authored Representation of the Professional Athlete and co-authored Sports Law and Regulation and Law and Business of the Entertainment Industries, among other publications. He served as chairman for the American Bar Association Forum Committee on Entertainment and Sports.
Professor Berry received his AB from the University of Missouri and an LLB from Harvard University. Prior to arriving at BC Law, he taught at the University of Florida and Wayne State University.
He is survived by his wife, Carole; his sons, James Doak and Dana; stepdaughter, Beth Ann Jerskey; his brother, James; and grandsons Joshua and Ender. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jackie Robinson Foundation in memory of Robert C. Berry.