Ernest F. Roberts

Ernest F. Roberts, Edwin H. Woodruff Professor of Law, Emeritus, passed away at Kendal at Ithaca on August 26, 2025 at the age of 95. He was predeceased by Alice Roberts, his loving wife of 69 years. He is survived by his children: Martha, Ernest, Michael, and Marianne along with 5 grandchildren: Michelle, William, Keenan, Delaney, and Alyssa and 2 great grandchildren: Callahan and Brynn.

Professor Roberts graduated from Northeastern University with a B.A. in 1952 and from Boston College with an LL.B in 1954. After serving in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, he began his teaching career at Villanova Law School in 1957. In 1964 he started teaching at the Cornell Law School where he served on the faculty until his retirement in 1996.

Among his areas of teaching expertise were property law, land use planning, zoning, and evidence. He wrote about and distinguished himself in all these areas. He was an outstanding teacher and was seen as a font of knowledge to his students as well as an entertaining lecturer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 9, 2025 at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Ithaca, New York. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Residents’ Association of Kendal or the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

His family would like to thank the staff at Kendal for all their care and kindness towards both Ernie and Alice.