Joan Fitzpatrick, 52; Advocate for Refugee and Immigrant Rights

Joan M. Fitzpatrick, a University of Washington law professor and internationally known advocate for immigrant and refugee rights, was found dead at her home May 16 in an apparent suicide. She was 52.

Fitzpatrick, a Harvard-educated author of six books and dozens of law review articles, was a former associate dean and acting vice provost at the law school. She also taught in the International Human Rights Law Program at Oxford University in England.

Her writings on human rights included a book on the international system for protecting rights during states of emergency and a guide to mechanisms and procedures for protecting refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people.

She served on law publication editorial boards, was a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and immigration rights groups, and was on several human rights organization advisory boards.