[NAGDU] In Memoriam Scott LaBarre: A Statement on his Passing

[kevan at nfbco.org]

The following message is from the National Federation of the Blind, the
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, and the Colorado Center for
the Blind.

 

It has been a difficult year of loss for the circle of friendship we share
in our movement. We regretfully share the devastating loss of Scott LaBarre,
who passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 10. Most
recently serving as our national general council, Scott has been a longtime
Federationist, a fierce leader in our movement, and a great friend to so
many of us. The outpouring of love from the Federation family was deeply
felt by Scott, but his challenging medical condition could not be overcome.
More details about services for this extraordinary individual, along with
information about how we can support his wife, Anahit, and children, Alex
and Carter, will be coming soon.

 

We are overwhelmingly grateful for the decades of work that Scott did for
the blind of his generation and beyond, from arguing in the courts on behalf
of blind people who experienced discrimination, to his service as president
of the Colorado affiliate, to the close personal mentorship he freely gave
to hundreds of individuals-all while raising a family. Scott was a lawyer
who ran his own private law practice in the areas of employment law,
disability rights, and international copyright policy. He held several
leadership positions within the American Bar Association and the organized
blind movement. He served as chairman of the Colorado Center for the Blind,
led the National Association of Blind Lawyers, and helped establish and
guide the Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium. His impact will continue to ripple
across the world because of his leadership in securing the Marrakesh Treaty,
an international agreement permitting the sharing of accessible books, which
was just one among the many ways he created positive and lasting change. 

 

The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado presented
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBTHYWe7gnI> a Tribute to Scott at the 2021
state convention that shares more about his story and enduring influence,
and we will continue to celebrate his life and service. Per the request of
his family, memorial contributions should be directed to either the Colorado
Center for the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind for the work to
empower blind people to live the lives they want, to which Scott gave so
much. We send our love and gratitude to him and his family.