UConn Today, In Memoriam: UConn Law Professor Emeritus Stephen Utz:
Stephen Utz, Roger Sherman Professor of Law Emeritus at the UConn School of Law and a beloved teacher and scholar, passed away peacefully on December 9 after a long illness. His nearly 40-year career at the law school left an enduring mark on generations of students and faculty, shaping the school’s success and excellence in tax law and legal philosophy. …
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Professor Utz demonstrated academic excellence early in life. He graduated from Louisiana State University at just 19, earning highest honors in philosophy. As LSU’s first Marshall Scholar, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Science from King’s College, University of Cambridge.
He taught philosophy at LSU before turning to law, enrolling at the University of Texas School of Law, where he graduated with high honors, served on the Texas Law Review, and was elected to the Order of the Coif, an honor society for law school graduates. Following law school, he clerked for Judge Joseph T. Sneed on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and practiced at the tax law firm Caplin & Drysdale in Washington, D.C. …
Professor Utz joined the UConn School of Law faculty in 1983, beginning a distinguished academic career defined by outstanding teaching and prolific scholarship. He taught a range of courses over his four decades at UConn Law, including Federal Income Taxation, Tax Policy, International Tax, and Trusts and Estates. He retired in 2023.
A renowned expert in federal tax law, tax policy, and jurisprudence, Professor Utz authored numerous articles, book chapters, and several widely adopted books, including “Tax Policy: A Survey and Introduction to the Principal Debates,” “Federal Income Taxation of Partners and Partnerships,” and “Inside Tax Law: What Matters and Why.” His casebook, “Federal Tax Law: Practice, Problems, and Perspective,” was published in 2013. …
Professor Utz is survived by his three daughters, Emma (Utz) Brewer, Clara Utz, and Annabel Utz, and by his partner, Ellen Keane. The family will hold a memorial service at a later date. They ask that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Elizabeth Park Conservancy, in honor of the park and gardens that were so special to him.
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