This is the story of…

a daughter, a sister, an athlete, a scholar, a friend, and a wife.

This is the story of just about anyone that you might know.

»  Felicia Beth Nekritz was born on December 5th, 1971

»  Mike and Ed adored their little sister

»  In 1989, Felicia placed third in the state doubles tennis tournament for Glenbrook North High School

»  On May 19, 1996, Felicia graduated from law school

»  Felicia was a true friend

»  On November 1, 1997, Felicia became a wife

»  Three weeks later, Felicia was diagnosed with breast cancer

»  Nine months later, on September 3, 1998, Felicia died

A Life Well Lived

Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics [Vol 13:575]
by Steven Lubet

Felicia Nekritz Presser graduated from law school in the Spring of 1996, taking a job with the juvenile section of the Ohio Public Defender’s office. In December of that year she married Jay Presser. She was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few weeks later, and in less than a year, she had passed away. Simply writing those facts still takes my breath away. When I read them to my students, virtually everyone gasps in horror and then the entire class falls silent.

“She believed absolutely in rehabilitation as opposed to incarceration of criminals,” said her husband. “She believed in the inherent goodness of all people, and it was that basic belief that drove her.”

“It was her heart that just drove everything and drove everybody to her,” said her mother.

Others added that she was passionate about defending the underdog. She worked on death penalty cases and she volunteered legal assistance to the homeless.  Read more »