Walter Scott Van Alstyne

W. SCOTT VAN ALSTYNE JR. Former Madison Attorney and law teacher W. Scott Van Alstyne, Jr. died at home in Gainesville, Florida on December 10, 2011. He was 89 years old. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Marion Walker Van Alstyne of Gainesville, Florida, a daughter Dr. Gretchen A. Van Alstyne of Rocky Hill, Ct., a son Hunter S. Van Alstyne, three grandchildren and Margaret Hudson Van Alstyne of Madison. Mr. Van Alstyne received M.A., LL.B (J.D.) and S.J.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin and was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1953. He was elected to both Phi Beta Kappa and The Order of the Coif while at the University of Wisconsin. Active in civic affairs such as the Arthritis Foundation he served on the Governor's Commission on Education and the State Bar of Wisconsin Task Force on Legal Education. Leaving Madison in 1972 to join the University of Florida law faculty, he remained active in the Wisconsin Bar, serving as a Director and a founder of the Non-Resident Division, then President of the Division and then on the State Bar Board of Governors. Professor Van Alstyne was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific The...[more]

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r. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served with the 32nd Infantry Division during the Berlin crisis. He retired as Colonel, Infantry AUS. In addition to lecturing at the Wisconsin Law School for many years, Professor Van Alstyne also taught at the University of Nebraska, College of Law and at Cornell University Law School. He authored two books and numerous scholarly articles in professional legal journals. Expertise in international business transaction led to summer teaching at Cambridge University in England, and as a special lecturer one semester at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. He was also a visiting professor for two separate academic years at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He retired as an Emeritus Professor from the University of Florida in 1991. For many years, Professor Van Alstyne was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church, The Madison Club, Fort Rensselaer Club (Canajoharie, New York), The Netherlands Club (New York City), The Holland Society of New York and the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York. On June 1, at 10:30 a.m., Professor Van Alstyne will be buried with military honors after a brief graveside memorial service, at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison.