Personal: Born in Florida. Grew up in Indianapolis. U.S. Army (1964-67). Married. Retired. Living in Onondaga Co, NY, near Syracuse, since 1967.

Academic and Professional: BSJ, MSJ, Northwestern Univ; PhD, Syracuse Univ; post-doctoral MSL, Yale Law School. Professor, Syracuse Univ, 1967-2011; Professor Emeritus, 2011 to date.

The Find A Grave FAQs (rules) say, "Death certificates may be added." If you send a message asking me to ignore F.A.G. rules because your personal preference happens not to agree with the rules ---- for example by asking me to delete an image that’s within F.A.G.’s allowable images and relates directly to the person being memorialized ---- please state why you think I should disregard the rules (something more persuasive than "I prefer" or "I don't like"), and please be sure you’re accepting messages so that I can reply after I’ve given your request the attention it deserves.

I try to make memorials as complete and accurate as possible, particularly when images of contemporary records are in the public domain. Public records (marriage records, death records, etc.) -- just like tombstones and family bibles and "what my grandmother told me" -- sometimes contain errors. But we need to see the records if we're going to judge whether they are right or wrong. Even though some of us might be distressed that public records are revealing, there’s a reason they are public, and wishing won't make them secret again, just as you can’t "unring" a bell. Let's follow the F.A.G. rules.

Personal: Born in Florida. Grew up in Indianapolis. U.S. Army (1964-67). Married. Retired. Living in Onondaga Co, NY, near Syracuse, since 1967.

Academic and Professional: BSJ, MSJ, Northwestern Univ; PhD, Syracuse Univ; post-doctoral MSL, Yale Law School. Professor, Syracuse Univ, 1967-2011; Professor Emeritus, 2011 to date.

The Find A Grave FAQs (rules) say, "Death certificates may be added." If you send a message asking me to ignore F.A.G. rules because your personal preference happens not to agree with the rules ---- for example by asking me to delete an image that’s within F.A.G.’s allowable images and relates directly to the person being memorialized ---- please state why you think I should disregard the rules (something more persuasive than "I prefer" or "I don't like"), and please be sure you’re accepting messages so that I can reply after I’ve given your request the attention it deserves.

I try to make memorials as complete and accurate as possible, particularly when images of contemporary records are in the public domain. Public records (marriage records, death records, etc.) -- just like tombstones and family bibles and "what my grandmother told me" -- sometimes contain errors. But we need to see the records if we're going to judge whether they are right or wrong. Even though some of us might be distressed that public records are revealing, there’s a reason they are public, and wishing won't make them secret again, just as you can’t "unring" a bell. Let's follow the F.A.G. rules.