José Bahamonde-Gonzalez, associate dean of the University of Maryland Francis K. Carey School of Law, dies

José Bahamonde-González, an legal professional, authorized administrator and affiliate dean of the College of Maryland Francis Ok. Carey Faculty of Regulation, died of an acute an infection Might 15 at his North Baltimore residence. He was 62.

“José was a fixture in each a part of the legislation college,” mentioned the varsity’s dean, Donald B. Tobin. “He was a particular man who lit up a room. He had power and connection. His core was individuals.”

Born in Santiago, Cuba, he was the son of José “Pepe” Bahamonde, a licensed public accountant and Sonia González, a hairdresser and salon proprietor. He and his dad and mom left Cuba shortly after his start and in the end settled in Puerto Rico. He attended Sacred Coronary heart Academy in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and was elected president of his senior class. He then earned a level on the College of Puerto Rico. He sang within the school glee membership.

Mr. Bahamonde-González earned a enterprise administration diploma from the College of Massachusetts and have become an auditor with the Financial institution of Boston. He quickly determined that he wanted to advance past accounting and earned a level at Syracuse College School of Regulation. He graduated in 1992.

He went into legislation college administration. He served as assistant director for Profession Providers and Coordinator for Minority Affairs on the Georgetown College Regulation Heart and he later was assistant dean for the Profession Planning Heart on the College of Miami Faculty of Regulation.

He then moved to Baltimore and labored for 22 years on the College of Maryland Francis King Carey Faculty of Regulation, serving in administrative positions. He had been affiliate dean for administrative affairs and Pupil Providers and affiliate dean for skilled schooling. He was identified colloquially as Dean José.

Maryland Regulation Faculty’s Dean Tobin mentioned Mr. Bahamonde-González exuded enthusiasm and had the flexibility to uplift others.

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“He pressured you the place you needed to go,” mentioned Mr. Tobin. “He helped college students who weren’t aiming as excessive as they may or weren’t positive of themselves. He inspired what was particular about individuals and helped them see their very own expertise. He pushed an influence of confidence to others.”

“Mr. Bahamonde-González was a robust advocate for range and inclusion,” mentioned a College of Maryland Regulation Faculty assertion. “He was the inaugural chair and member of the Variety Advisory Council of the College of Maryland, Baltimore; served on the Regulation Faculty Admissions Council Variety Committee; and was a member of the Pupil Providers Part of the Affiliation of American Regulation Colleges.”

“We started working in 1997, and our relationship quickly went from being colleagues to a friendship,” mentioned Andreas Ortmeyer, a legislation college colleague. “You knew when José was within the constructing. He introduced this power with him. He introduced that very same vibrancy to any private occasion — a birthday or a new child’s arrival. He thrived off different’s peoples’ power. Individuals simply needed to speak to him.”

“I used to be in my final 12 months of legislation college after we linked. He took me beneath his wing,” mentioned legal professional Kraig Lengthy. “He was energetic, considerate and artistic. He was a drive for range on the college and he put these beliefs into motion.”

“He and his accomplice would host a Valentine’s Day get together for LGBQ college students and their pals,” mentioned Adam Farra, a 2011 Maryland Regulation Faculty graduate who practices in Washington, D.C. “It was vital for making them really feel part of the Baltimore neighborhood and the legislation college neighborhood. José’s driving drive was inclusivity and inspiring of us who got here from communities that had been underrepresented within the authorized career. He helped them community and performed a job as counsellor to these college students.”

In 2019 Mr. Bahamonde-González, whereas remaining on the legislation college, additionally turned the downtown Baltimore legislation agency of Miles & Stockbridge’s Chief Variety, Fairness, Inclusion & Skilled Growth Officer.

He went on to function Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s Senior Variety, Fairness & Inclusion Supervisor in 2021.

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He labored with college students, legal professionals, professors, directors and others to extend alternatives, open doorways, and construct pipelines to enhance range within the authorized career.

He was gregarious and had an infectious smile. He was form with a lot power behind it,” mentioned his husband, Gerald Alan Popko. “He was identified for giving the very best hugs, a hug full of affection.”

In 2018, he acquired the Maryland Hispanic Bar Affiliation Excellent Achievement Award for his work counseling and mentoring Latinx legislation college students and legal professionals.

And in 2020, Syracuse College School of Regulation honored him with the Latin American Regulation College students Affiliation Legacy Award.

He’s survived by his husband of 13 years, Gerald Alan Popko; two sons, Jason Popko and Benjamin Popko, each of Atlanta; his sister, Ana Marta Bahamonde-Manzano of Houston; two nephews, Roberto José Manzano of Houston and Luis Antonio Manzano of San Juan; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service is being deliberate for Westminster Corridor of the College of Maryland, West Fayette Road. A date has not been set.