In Memoriam: Richard A. Soden

Richard’s memorial service will be held at Trinity Church (in Copley Square) at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 8th.

We are deeply saddened to share that the ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section's beloved Budget Officer Richard A. Soden passed away on December 25, 2023. 

A member of the American Bar Association since 1971, Richard was active with the  Civil Rights and Social Justice Section throughout his legal career. Most recently, he volunteered his time as the Section’s Budget Officer and Chair of its Fundraising and Development Council Committee. His leadership in these roles and many others he held were critical to the continued success of the Civil Rights and Social Justice Section, including spearheading our Giving Day campaigns for the last two years and his role as a member of the Fundraising Committee for our annual Thurgood Marshall Award dinner. In 2009, Richard received the American Bar Association’s Spirit of Excellence Award, given in recognition of his three decades of work promoting diversity in the legal profession.

Richard also served as the President of the Boston Bar Association, Boston Bar Foundation and the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, and chairman of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Bar Services and Activities and its Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs. In addition, he served as chairman of the Steering Committee of the Boston Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and was a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates and Board of Governors. 

Here is a wonderful tribute to Richard from his firm, Goodwin, where he was a partner for many years.

The ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section will be honoring Richard at our Midyear Business Meeting on January 25-26, 2024. 

May his memory be a blessing. 

Robin R. Runge
ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, 2023-24 Chair