James Franklin Flug

James Franklin Flug

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James Franklin Flug, 81, passed away at his home in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, with his wife of 49 years and his daughters at his side. James, known as Jim or Jimmy to family and friends, spent his life in public service and the law. He was known never to miss a family occasion, school or camp reunion, recreational sports opportunity, or breaking national news.

Flug called himself a “Washington Lawyer.” Indeed, his career covered much of the District’s and the country’s legal, political and public interest spheres. His work for Senator Edward M. Kennedy spanned forty years, as the Senator’s Legislative Assistant (1967-69), Chief Counsel on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary (1969-73); as well as Special Counsel, Maryland director, and convention press secretary for Kennedy’s Presidential Campaign (1979-80). He was especially proud to contribute to the Senator’s efforts to beat back a Congressional attack on the Supreme Court’s “one-man, one-vote” decision, pass the 1968 gun control law, defeat two of President Richard Nixon’s Supreme Court nominations, and to conduct the first formal investigation of the Watergate scandal. And he returned to the Senator’s staff as Chief Counsel in 2003-2006, to work on legal and constitutional issues, including the Roberts and Alito Supreme Court nominations.

Flug’s career began when, after graduating Harvard College and Law School, he moved to Washington in 1963 for a one-year clerkship with Judge David Bazelon. He then worked for Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach and others in the Tax Division of the Justice Department, where he met his beloved wife, Carla. Then, as Director of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Flug was active in the adoption and implementation of the 1974 Legal Services Corporation Act, funding legal aid for people who cannot afford counsel. Next, he headed Energy Action, which challenged oil companies and the Carter administration on energy issues during the 1970’s oil crisis.

From 1980 to 2003, Flug practiced “private public interest law,” first as a partner at the firm Lobel, Novins, Lamont, and Flug. That work included helping state governments obtain large oil overcharge refunds for use in their energy programs and, as Washington Counsel for the Generic Drug industry, helping to push for the enactment of the historic “Hatch-Waxman” compromise to accelerate approvals of generic drugs. In 1991, he co-founded National Narrowcast Network with his wife Carla, who, as Executive Director, brought to life his then-radical, pre-internet idea of providing live audio coverage of congressional and federal agency hearings over the phone. He also served on the board of his synagogue, Tifereth Israel, and of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, and he enjoyed swimming laps at Wilson High School and playing tennis with friends.

Later in life, Flug’s love of storytelling and his belief in the ability to make a difference naturally led him to serve as an adjunct law professor focusing on public interest and government law with American University and Georgetown University, and a visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School and The Kennedy School of Government.

Despite gravitating to Washington for his career, Flug always thought of himself as a Brooklyn kid and a camper/counselor at Wigwam, the Maine camp where he spent 15 summers. Born on January 17, 1939, to Samuel S. Flug and Evelyn Raphael Flug, he grew up in Brooklyn’s Manhattan Beach. His eyes twinkled when he remembered Ebinger’s cupcakes, the old Nathan’s, his father’s recitation of Kipling on family car trips, holidays with family, and meals at Lundy’s. He often sang his young daughters and then grandchildren to sleep with baritone versions of Wigwam’s campfire songs. The biggest testament to his passion for these experiences are his many lifelong friends from as far back as nursery school, The Center Academy, Poly Preparatory School and camp.

Flug was no less passionate about his Harvard College and Law School friends and involvements, including starting a local civil defense group, selling Vespas for his brother’s dealership, and reporting for radio station WHRB, for which he once finagled an interview with a young presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. In Washington, too, Carla and Jim’s friends and colleagues became a second extended family.

James Flug is survived by his beloved wife, Carla Carbaugh Flug; his daughters Margo Flug Jhaveri of Brooklyn, NY, Amanda Flug Davidoff of Washington, DC, and Susanna Flug-Silva of Belmont, MA; his sisters Barbara Flug Colin of Roslyn Estates, NY, and Victoria Flug Sterling of Denver, CO; his sons-in-law Sujay Jhaveri, Sam Davidoff, and Robert Flug-Silva; his grandchildren Nicholas, Emma, Noah, and Jerrin; and his many siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his brothers Martin R. Flug of Aspen, CO, and Robert K. Flug of Portland, OR.

To his family, Flug will forever be leading his daughters down a ski slope while humming the skater’s waltz, adventuring with Carla according to their painstakingly crafted travel itineraries, floating on the brook in Westport with his grandchildren and siblings, singing rousing and approximate renditions of holiday prayers with his cousins, nieces, and nephews, and following his own advice to “never miss a party.”

A virtual memorial service for family and friends is being held on Sunday, January 17, 2021, from 1-2:30pm EST. If you would like to join the service, please register in advance here.. Whether or not you can be there, the family invites you to share memories, stories, and/or condolences online via a form available here.

Charitable contributions may be made to DC Central Kitchen. https://dccentralkitchen.org/donate/

Offer Condolence for the family of James Franklin Flug

Memorial Service

https://brandeis.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvd-6hpjkqGNCfY8fCnEMogXlbtgUAMCDC

01/17/2021

1:00pm - 2:30pm

Condolence Messages

  1. harry petchesky says:

    I tried in vain to join today’s service. Jim was year behind me at Poly Prep, Our paths crossed frequently there, but less so after he moved to Washington..It was easy to foresee that this smart, well-rounded guy with a well-developed irreverent sense of humor would distinguish himself. i’m proud to have known him and extend my condolences and congratulations on a life well-lived.

    Harry Petchesky

  2. Stan Futterman says:

    I have a vivid memory of Jimmy from the commons room at the Harvard Law Review, volume 76, his third year at the Law School and my second, where he was an inimitable presence, I regret that our paths did not cross again. His was an admirable life with strong contributions to our country. My condolences to his family and many friends.

  3. Lewis M.Goodman says:

    Carla and Family:

    I just learned of Jim’s passing. My condolences to and your Family. Jim and I go back to Camp Wigwam in the early 50,s.We stayed in touch several times a year about many things-about the Dartmouth-Harvard rivalry. Jim was a good friend. He will be missed.. Lew Goodman/Shaker Heights, Ohio

  4. Sylvia Elias Elman says:

    I am so sorry for Jimmy’s passing. I knew Jimmy 1958-61 when I dated a good friend of his, Steve Rosenkranz, who unfortunately passed away in1964. We were at so many events together and in groups including a weekend at the Westport house with his whole family where we also went to see Shakespeare. I not only miss Jimmy but that era of my life long gone. I am so sorry for your loss and all that you will be missing. I can only hope that the wonderful memories sustain you all!

  5. Carolyn Yep Carlson says:

    I am sorry to hear the passing of Jim Flug. After my college graduation and being a fast typist, I landed my first job with Lobel Novins and Lamont assigned to work with Jim Flug. Jim was dedicated, passionate and fair. While most may not have had the patience to keep up with Jim’s many edits I was forewarned by the office manager of demands but felt that I was making a difference supporting Jim’s ongoing activities. I showed up each day and was able to read Jim’s scribble, apologizing when I could not ready words but noticing overall that the document became a stronger legal brief. There was office dynamics and personalities, but I and Jim didn’t get into the middle of other’s issues. Once Jim walked me over to the Capitol Hilton and got me into a cab so I could get home safely after a day’s overtime. The office recommended a dentist whom I still use 37 years later, and they threw great Christmas parties. I am reading about Jim’s many contributions to Watergate, and I wish I had learned more at that time. Jim, Thank you for your leadership in making a difference to saving US democracy and support of justice for all Americans. I extend my condolences to Jim’s family, friends and co-workers.

  6. Ron Goodman says:

    Knowing Jim for about 74 years from Camp Wigwam through Harvard and many years thereafter, he was a part of my conscious
    cadre of life-long friends. I see his pictures in so many national papers and I see myself at our age. But I also see the face of a ten year old bubbling with energy and even then a beyond adult sense of humor.

    I felt a loss of friendship that I hadn’t felt so much during these latter years when I read of Jim’s death. But I still have the image of the unruly yet still self-controlled good and happy friend and have that friendship that was able to survive for lots and lots of decades.

  7. Evans family says:

    It’s never easy saying goodbye to a love one, the pain of loss can be unbearable. Our creator promises that one day this pain will be a memory. Thinking of you all.

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