George Pierce, 84; was judge, educator
George G. Pierce, a retired judge and educator, died Dec. 12 of organ failure at his home in Brewster. He was 84.
Mr. Pierce served as a federal administrative law judge in Boston from 1973 until retiring in 1992. He presided over trials concerning labor and disability laws.
He traveled widely, hearing cases throughout New England and Appalachia, where he heard claims of miners with black lung disease, said his son, Laurence of Cambridge.
"He loved being a lawyer and loved the law. He was perfectly suited for it. He loved delivering legal service to the people," he said.
Mr. Pierce was born in Newton and graduated from Newton High School. He served in the Army in World War II, specializing in German studies and cryptology.
Mr. Pierce also attended the University of Paris to study French history and culture. He graduated from Amherst College in 1947 and earned a law degree from Columbia University.
He worked as a lawyer in Boston for 20 years: as a trial attorney with Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., an associate in the firm of Spencer and Stone, and as a partner in the law firm of Langenbach, Reynolds, Pierce and Aisner.
He was active in community organizations, and served as director and president of the Boston Community Music Center. Mr. Pierce was an early advocate of abortion rights and served as counsel for the Pregnancy Counseling Service.
"He had strong beliefs of a woman's right to choose," his son said.
Mr. Pierce also taught business law at Northeastern University for more than two decades and in 1963 coauthored a textbook. After retiring, he continued teaching at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement.
In addition to his son, Mr. Pierce leaves his wife, Marjorie (Wallace); two daughters, Anne of Cambridge and Elizabeth of Arlington; a sister, Helen Nagle of Easthampton, N.Y.; three stepchildren, Bruce MacLeod of Chevy Chase, Md., Norman MacLeod of Westport, Conn., and Margo MacLeod of Austin, Texas; three grandsons; and three granddaughters.
A memorial service will be held today at 11.a.m. in First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist Church. 