Because the world could use more people like Professor Daniel Strouse, who recently died after a brief illness, his friends and family have established a scholarship fund for law students who embody the fine qualities that he exhibited. Strouse, a beloved faculty member at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law whose wisdom, wit and warmth enhanced the education of hundreds of law students during his 17-year career there, died on Aug. 7 at his Tempe home following a five-month battle against lung cancer. He was 57. The scholarship fund was established with a lead gift of $75,000 from Dr. John Shufeldt, a 2005 graduate of the College of Law and close friend of Strouse. Every year, three students affiliated with the College's Center for the Study of Law, Science, & Technology, which Strouse directed from 1990 to 2001, each will be awarded $5,000 and the honor of being Strouse Scholars. A $10,000 award, to be called the Strouse Prize, will be made each year to the college graduate whose academic strengths, contributions to the Center and personal qualities most closely mirror those of Strouse, who was known for his intellect, dedication to career and family, enthusiasm, kindness, grace, integrity and myriad admirable qualities. "My hope is that we find people who are more than just book smart, but also demonstrate a combination of the wonderful attributes that Dan had," said Shufeldt, chief executive officer of Mesa-based NextCare Urgent Care. Colleague and friend Betsy Grey, who served on the committee that in 1990 hired Strouse to teach law and lead the Center into the 21st century, recalled his sharp mind, sense of humor and decency. "What I remember from his interview was how articulate he was," said Grey, a law professor and a Center Faculty Fellow. "He had such a keen intellect, but one of the first things you would notice about Dan is that he had such a gentle nature and a wonderful wit." Strouse was exemplary in his dedication to his students, going above and beyond to prepare for their classes and poring over their papers in order to build their skills to become good lawyers, she said. But he also worked hard to achieve balance in his private life with his wife, Nancy Gonzales, and his two young daughters, Isabel and Emma. Strouse was an accomplished musician who played baritone sax and rhythm guitar in The Repeat Offenders, he enjoyed hiking and spending time outdoors and was a master at nurturing his many longtime friendships, Grey said. "It was wonderful to see this pure enjoyment of life that Dan had," Grey said. Michelle Notrica, who graduated from the College in 2003, said Strouse gave her advice and guidance when she first arrived at law school, much the way a father would. He was a brilliant teacher, she said. "I came to law school looking for a career change and not sure how to focus my interests," said Notrica, a Phoenix lawyer in private practice, who'd worked as a health-care consultant for 10 years. "He really motivated me with his excitement about the law, and he gave health-care law a different twist, that it was not all just about medical malpractice, but also about legislation and medical ethics and how physicians are impacted. He was so smart, he taught me a lot about how you understand the law, and coming in as a second-career student, that's a little daunting." Notrica took as many courses from Strouse as time permitted, and also sought his help in forming an association for students interested in health law, as well as developing an internship program for them. Strouse was always happy to lend a hand, she said. Jalayne Arias, a third-year law student, had just one course with Strouse, Law and the Regulatory State, and she had planned this semester around taking a course from him. He was on sabbatical last year, finishing a book, and was due to return to teaching this fall. "I don't know if I've been as excited about taking a class as I was to be taking his public health law class," said Arias, who's working on a Health Law Certificate and had the opportunity two summers ago to do research with Strouse. "He was so appreciative, thankful, helpful and understanding." The beloved professor also had a way of making people comfortable, joking about boring subject matter and putting faith in students whom he barely knew. Arias said Strouse introduced her to the complex field of health law, and she expects his influence has only just begun. "I think about him and wish I could talk to him about a paper I'm writing," she said. "He will be a reminder in my head when I'm practicing law." Grey credited Strouse, along with other founding members, with building the Center for the Study of Law, Science, & Technology, "brick by brick," into the nationally renowned institute that it is today. He also was instrumental in developing the College's health-law curriculum. Strouse and law Professor Charles Calleros were merely colleagues until discovering their mutual passion for music. It cemented their friendship. The pair played soulful R&B tunes in The Repeat Offenders, and its two predecessor bands, and also got together at their homes for unplugged folk music or with Noel Fidel, also a law professor, for jazz combos. "One day, we spent about eight hours going through old vinyl records with our favorite early R&B music, picking out songs that a band might cover," Calleros said. "We later remembered that day with fondness and expressed our hope that we could repeat it someday." On rhythm guitar, Strouse had such skill and taste that he rarely needed to stand out with high volume and power chords, instead contributing just the right sound to blend with the other musicians, Calleros said. He also played baritone sax instinctually, knowing just where to add a riff to introduce a singer's line, and how to harmonize his baritone sax with the other members of the horn section. "He was good," Calleros said. Strouse was a Renaissance man, a devoted family man, gracious friend, remarkable teacher, superb musician and approachable mentor, said Shufeldt, everything that the stereotypical stern, intimidating, imperious law professor in The Paper Chase was not. "The qualities he possessed were great qualities for law professors as well as lawyers," he said. For more information about or to contribute to the Strouse Scholars and Strouse Prize, go to www.law.asu.edu/strouse .